Global Report on Food Crises warns of worrying increase of acute food insecurity in 4 Central American countries and Haiti

May 5, 2021, Santiago Chile - In 2020, acute food insecurity increased significantly in El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua, with 11.8 million in Crisis or worse (phase 3 or above of the integrated food safety classification, IPC), up from 8.1 million people in 2019, according to the 2021 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC).

Of the five countries, three of them are classified as major food crises: Haiti, Guatemala and Honduras.

This year acute food insecurity estimates for Venezuela are not included in the GRFC since no new data has been made available after 2019, when it was reported that 9.3 million persons, or 32% of the total population, required food assistance. Partial evidence suggests that the overall situation may have worsened in 2020.

Globally, 155 million people are suffering acute food insecurity and in need of urgent assistance (IPC phase 3 or above) in 55 countries and territories in 2020, an unprecedented level compared to the previous five editions of the GRFC report.

This represents an increase of 20 million people compared to 135 million in 2019. In the 55 countries and territories covered by GRFC 2021, around 16 million children under the age of five were stunted.

Main causes behind the rise in Central America and Haiti

Severe weather extremes in late 2020 affected over 8 million people across Central America, hitting food-insecure areas that had already experienced multiple years of drought as well as reduced incomes due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The economic repercussions of the pandemic heightened pre-existing vulnerabilities, precipitating a major economic and labour market crisis.

Over three-quarters of analyzed households in the Dry Corridor reported reduced incomes during October–December due to lost employment and low profitability in informal trade activities.

For 2021, atypically high acute food insecurity levels are expected for Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and likely Nicaragua.

El Salvador | Guatemala | Haiti | Honduras | Nicaragua

In 2020, Haiti remained among the 10 worst global food crises. For August 2020 – February 2021, around 4.1 million people were in crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above), representing 40 percent of the analyzed population. The situation may deteriorate by June 2021 with 4.4 million people in crisis or worse, should no adequate response be implemented.

In Guatemala, over 3.7 million people were in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above), of whom nearly 428 000 people were in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) in November 2020–March 2021. In Honduras, around 2.9 million people were in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above), of whom 614 000 were in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) in December 2020– March 2021.

In ElSalvador, around 684 000 people were in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above), of whom 95 000 were in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) in November 2020–February 2021 (IPC, December 2020). In Nicaragua, around 400 000 people were in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above) in September– October 2020.

Food insecurity in Venezuela remains a major concern

Although no new figures are available for 2020, the GRFC report states that the economic collapse and poverty that has ensued, exacerbated by COVID-19 restrictions, and fuel shortages have fueled an already severe humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.

There is a significant proportion of people who have a problem of economic access to ensure adequate food.  There is also a disturbing trend towards a less diversified diet with lower nutritional value, which impacts the growth of children and the health of pregnant and lactating women. 

In 2019, Venezuela was among the 10 worst food crises globally, with 9.3 million Venezuelans in need of emergency food assistance, representing 32 percent of the total population.

Effects on migration

According to the GRFC report, in Central America, years of consecutive drought, poverty and a deteriorating security environment have driven around 470 000 Guatemalans, El Salvadorans and Hondurans to migrate abroad as of July 2020.

A further 319 000 people in El Salvador and Honduras were internally displaced as of early 2020. The evolving humanitarian crisis in Venezuela will likely continue encouraging outward migration; due to the ongoing pandemic and regional economic conditions, around 5 million people across the region affected by the Venezuelan crisis will require emergency food security assistance in 2021.