Joint FAO-WFP Informal Membership Briefing on Food Security Emergencies

The 7 July FAO/WFP Joint briefing on Food Security Emergencies highlighted the Inter-Cluster Statement on Famine and Food Crises and unpacked some of the links between displacement and food insecurity. The recent NRC report titled ‘Hammer-blow- How the conflict in Ukraine will have a catastrophic impact on displaced communities in crises’ was presented, as well as FAO/WFP joint work in support of Internally Displaced People and Refugees in South Sudan.

Mr Damien Joud and Ms Cristina Majorano from the global Food Security Cluster (FSC) presented the Inter-Cluster Statement on behalf of the Food Security, Health, Nutrition and WASH Clusters. They highlighted their commitment to working together, along with other sectors, national authorities, and resource partners to deliver an efficient and effective humanitarian response, in the context of increasing humanitarian needs and to prevent a further deterioration of food security levels.

Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, Northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen have been identified as priorities countries. Currently, the four Global Clusters are mapping inter-sectoral collaboration across operations and are identifying gaps, opportunities, and support requirements (from global to country level).

Displacement and food security - Hammer-blow- How the conflict in Ukraine will have a catastrophic impact on displaced communities in crises

Ms Suze van Meegen presented the recently published NRC report, assessing and highlighting the impact of rising food insecurity and secondary consequences on communities affected by conflict and displacement as a result of the conflict in Ukraine and other pre-existing drivers.

The report found that the conflict in Ukraine is expected to be a major compounding factor pushing vulnerable communities towards catastrophic levels of food insecurity. As of June 2022, close to 50 million people in countries affected by conflict and displacement are facing disproportionate risks from the consequences of worsening global food insecurity and are spiralling toward famine. In 2021, more than 88 percent of all internally displaced people (IDP) and 60 percent of refugees were in countries or territories experiencing food-crisis.

In addition, some respondents reported a tripling or quadrupling of the price of basic food basket items and significantly reduced availability in many contexts. Asylum seekers and IDPs already report increased tension, violence, and insecurity within their communities, with rising food insecurity as a major contributing factor. Negative coping strategies employed by affected populations are and will continue to rise because of increased food insecurity including meal skipping, debt accumulation, early forced marriage, and child labour.

NRC also gave a brief overview of the situation in the Horn of Africa, which is experiencing the worst drought in living memory and highlighted that pockets of IPC Phase 5 (catastrophe/famine) have now been confirmed.

Displacement and food security in South Sudan

Mr Meshack Malo, FAO Representative and Ms Adeyinka Badejo, WFP Country Director a.i., gave the presentation on displacement and food security in South Sudan.

They highlighted that with 70 percent of the country’s population in need of humanitarian assistance, over 2 million IDPs and over 300 000 refugees in the country, South Sudan is facing the highest levels of food insecurity since its independence. Over 7.7 million people are in IPC Phase 3 (crisis) and above. Of particular concern are the almost 3 million people projected to be in IPC phase 4 (emergency), one step away from famine and the 87,000 people already in IPC Phase 5.

While South Sudan does not import food directly from Ukraine, wheat flour prices are 40-45 percent above pre-crisis levels and the local price of sorghum has increased between 100 and 200 percent. Likewise, maize and maize flour prices have increased by 50 percent as a result of the Ukraine war.

The WFP Country Director and FAO Representative presented some examples of joint interventions in some counties. In Bentiu, which hosts around 210 000 IDPs, the two Agencies are delivering emergency food assistance, as well as farming and fishing kits to both IDPs and host communities, while strengthening their resilience through the training of farmers and community animal health workers, the rehabilitation of roads and dykes, and the transformation of water hyacinth into sustainable cooking fuel.

Similarly, in Maban, which currently hosts 50 percent of all refugees in South Sudan, FAO and WFP are delivering emergency food assistance to refugees and support to host communities in particular during the lean season, while providing both refugees and host communities with livelihood kits (crop, vegetable and fishing), livestock health services, and tree seedlings, and constructing wells and road dykes.