Almost 700 000 food insecure by March
Situation to ‘deteriorate significantly’
The most affected regions are Kavango East and Kavango West, with 5% of the population estimated to be facing IPC Phase 4 and emergency levels respectively.
The number of people who experienced food insecurity in Namibia from October 2022 to March 2023 was estimated to increase from 579 000 to 695 000.
This is according to an integrated food security phase classification (IPC) report.
Of this population, 65 000 will face emergency food insecurity and 630 000 will be in crisis level.
The Kavango West, Kavango East, Ohangwena, Hardap, //Karas, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa, Oshana, Omusati, Oshikoto and Kunene regions are classified under IPC Phase 3 crisis level, it said.
The most affected regions are Kavango East and Kavango West, with 5% of the population estimated to be facing IPC Phase 4 and emergency levels respectively.
Erongo was anticipated to remain in IPC ‘stressed’ Phase 2, while the Khomas Region was expected to fall in IPC Phase 3 or above (crisis or worse).
Hardap was expected to improve from IPC Phase 3 to IPC Phase 2.
“At regional level, the situation will deteriorate significantly especially in Kavango West, Kavango East, Omaheke, Ohangwena, with at least 35% of their populations respectively being in IPC Phase 3 or above.”
Poor harvest
According to the report, the main factors that were likely to affect food security during the projected period are prolonged dry spells and erratic rainfall, which has been below normal for the past years, negatively impacting livelihoods and crop and livestock production.
It said due to poor harvest during the current agricultural season, households have limited food stock, which will have been depleted by the start of the lean season. Most households will resort to stress and emergency coping strategies, such as selling of assets to meet food consumption gaps, it said.
Furthermore, the global increase of commodity prices and higher rate of unemployment will have an impact on food systems, especially for those with no stable income.
Meanwhile, the seasonal rainfall forecast has predicted an El Niño phenomenon with a high probability which will cause drier conditions.
These conditions - which are likely to result in below-normal rainfall for the 2023/2024 rainfall season – are expected to affect both crop and livestock production and consequently negatively affect the consumption period from April to June.
This is according to an integrated food security phase classification (IPC) report.
Of this population, 65 000 will face emergency food insecurity and 630 000 will be in crisis level.
The Kavango West, Kavango East, Ohangwena, Hardap, //Karas, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa, Oshana, Omusati, Oshikoto and Kunene regions are classified under IPC Phase 3 crisis level, it said.
The most affected regions are Kavango East and Kavango West, with 5% of the population estimated to be facing IPC Phase 4 and emergency levels respectively.
Erongo was anticipated to remain in IPC ‘stressed’ Phase 2, while the Khomas Region was expected to fall in IPC Phase 3 or above (crisis or worse).
Hardap was expected to improve from IPC Phase 3 to IPC Phase 2.
“At regional level, the situation will deteriorate significantly especially in Kavango West, Kavango East, Omaheke, Ohangwena, with at least 35% of their populations respectively being in IPC Phase 3 or above.”
Poor harvest
According to the report, the main factors that were likely to affect food security during the projected period are prolonged dry spells and erratic rainfall, which has been below normal for the past years, negatively impacting livelihoods and crop and livestock production.
It said due to poor harvest during the current agricultural season, households have limited food stock, which will have been depleted by the start of the lean season. Most households will resort to stress and emergency coping strategies, such as selling of assets to meet food consumption gaps, it said.
Furthermore, the global increase of commodity prices and higher rate of unemployment will have an impact on food systems, especially for those with no stable income.
Meanwhile, the seasonal rainfall forecast has predicted an El Niño phenomenon with a high probability which will cause drier conditions.
These conditions - which are likely to result in below-normal rainfall for the 2023/2024 rainfall season – are expected to affect both crop and livestock production and consequently negatively affect the consumption period from April to June.
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