Monitoring food security in countries with conflict situations (Issue No.7 - January 2020)

This seventh FAO/WFP update to the UNSC covers five countries (Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Haiti, Somalia and South Sudan) and two regions (the Lake Chad Basin and central Sahel) that are currently experiencing protracted conflict and insecurity and in which, according to latest figures, almost 30 million people need urgent food, nutrition and livelihood assistance.

The analysis indicates a worsening of the food security situation in Somalia, and persisting high levels of food insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin and Afghanistan. Although the numbers of acutely food insecure people in South Sudan showed a downward trend the analysis was carried out before the country was hit by devastating floods. The Central African Republic experienced a slight improvement thanks to the above-average harvest and improved security in some areas. Acute food insecurity levels in Haiti and central Sahel, which were not in the previous update, are extremely concerning and forecast to deteriorate.

At the beginning of 2019, there were 41 active highly violent conflicts, an increase from 36 at the start of the previous year. These conflicts, which are mostly happening in already poor, fragile and food insecure areas, are causing immense suffering and a huge need for humanitarian assistance, which has been vital in preventing a worsening of food crises in many countries covered in this update. And yet distribution of relief assistance, assessment of needs and monitoring of beneficiaries is being increasingly constrained in all the countries and regions profiled in this update.