TBD TBD 70,000 70,000 350,000 350,000 10.9 million < 226,000 (refugees) (refugees) < 226,000 (PSNP + emergency) emergency) + (PSNP Food Aid Beneficiaries . For more information, please please . For more information, publication do not necessarily publication

238,000 238,000 580,000 1.8 million 115,000 (host) (host) 115,000 email: [email protected]. 226,000 (refugees) (refugees) 226,000 Population at Risk Significant Events Timeline Significant Events Timeline

: The views expressed in this views expressed : The Food Security Alerts in Africa Security Alerts Food Food Aid Needs and Beneficiaries Beneficiaries and Needs Food Aid Country Kenya 3.6 million 3.6 million Ethiopia > 10 million Tanzania 3.7 million 564,726 Somalia South Sudan Tanzania 3.7 Uganda Zimbabwe n/a 1.9 million 2.1 million IDPs) 2.1 million (incl. n/a 2.1 million (incl. IDPs) 1.03 million 1.9 million FEWS NET is a USAID funded activity FEWS NET is a visit www.fews.net or Disclaimer Chad Djibouti Mauritania reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Develop- International for Agency States United of the views the reflect United States Government. ment or the

May 2006 10, in Sub-Saharan Africa Africa in Sub-Saharan

e situation, severe ero- e situation, severe der with Sudan is exacer- Sudan is with der rvades southern pastoral southern pastoral rvades Executive Overview of Food Security Security of Food Overview Executive Maradi, and . Zinder. and Tahoua Maradi, in some of the more insecure insecure more the of some in is on the decline. Non-food Non-food decline. is on the r half of their food needs. The The needs. their food of r half gh prices continue in the south, the in continue gh prices production was not enough to to was not enough production

wever, the upcoming dry season wever, the upcoming dry season debts they last year. incurred situation for refugees and Chadi- and refugees for situation stress strategies. Despite ongoing Despite ongoing stress strategies. from CAR continues, but rations CAR continues, from the minimum daily requirement. the e will improve in June. e will improve in Food security continues to deteriorate in in deteriorate Food securitycontinues to

: Urgent Action Required The hunger period came early this year for about year The came earlyabout for period this hunger The long-rains season was delayed by up to 40 days up to 40 was delayed by The long-rains season : Rampant inflation and a rapidly rising cost of living cost of rising a rapidly and inflation Rampant : Though rains have improved th rains have Though Recent rains have partially improved both vegetation vegetation both improved partially have rains Recent : Extreme food insecurity Extreme pe In northern Uganda, 1.45 million IDPs, mostly women women IDPs, mostly million 1.45 Uganda, In northern

: FEWS NET Alert Status Alert Status NET FEWS : : : Extremely high rates of malnutrition are now endemic in now endemic are malnutrition of rates high Extremely Preparedness and Monitoring Required Escalating conflict along the bor Escalating : Although food security conditions will continue to be to be continue will conditions food security Although : Highest Priority—Urgent Action Required Action Priority—Urgent Highest : Mauritania whose cereal 100,000 households in addition to cover current needs Tanzania across much of Tanzania, limiting the crop growth cycle the crop limiting and Tanzania, across much of highs. at record remain prices Cereal prospects. harvest affecting Uganda and children, still depend on aid fo aid on still depend and children, cultivation, to limit LRA continues the by abduction threat of even though the number of attacks interrupted been have interventions escorts. for armed terms agree on UN and UPDF the while areas have been cut to less than half less than to cut have been Ethiopia ans alike, reducing humanitarian access at the critical time for for time critical the at access humanitarian reducing alike, ans In south- season. rainy the of advance in aid food pre-positioning of refugees flow the ern Chad, bating a precarious food security a precarious bating suggesting its uneven distribution across the country. country. across the distribution suggesting its uneven continue to erode food access for most Zimbabweans, who are most Zimbabweans, who access for food erode to continue di employ to increasingly forced hi and imports of maize, shortages pastoral areas. Current acute malnutrition rates in drought af- drought in rates malnutrition acute Current areas. pastoral aid food some despite (GAM), to 30% 17 from range areas fected address the to is needed response A 2004. distributions since food access. beyond malnutrition and food insecurity causes of Somalia areas of the country, although recent rains will bring some res- will bring recent rains although country, the areas of vigi- extreme April, of dekad last the in relief some Despite pite. to late-May from period dry elongated during the needed lance is with is deteriorating, 4 2 and zones in Afar situation The October. prevailing. pre-famine conditions Kenya Chad sion of productive assets and destitution are still evident in many in many evident still are and destitution assets sion of productive in- the half of Less than Middle Juba regions. and parts of Gedo in recent distributions aid food received beneficiaries tended the pipelin months, although Zimbabwe and water resources, except in northwestern pastoral areas, where where areas, pastoral in northwestern except resources, and water Ho reported. been poor rains have may dry out pastures, particularly in coastal areas. coastal in mayout pastures, particularly dry Niger much better this year than in 2005, high rates of malnutrition and and malnutrition of rates high in 2005, than year this better much up- the during likely are food security deteriorating pockets of in especially season, coming hunger Sudan (southern) northern Bahr el Ghazal and the Arid Pastoral Zone. Pre- Zone. Arid Pastoral the and Ghazal el northern Bahr ensure regu- to the June rains is needed of advance in positioning May to critical throughout the distributions food lar and timely August hunger period. Djibouti Emergency Warning Watch

Executive Overview of Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa Special Focus: Niger May 10, 2006

Niger: Overall food security has improved, but malnutrition and localized food insecurity persist

While food security conditions are generally better in Niger in 2006 than in 2005, high levels of acute malnutrition and pockets of significant food insecurity will occur over the coming months, as the hunger season intensifies.

In contrast to last year, cereal production in 2005/06 was good throughout the Sahel region, including Niger, where production was slightly above average. As a result, the region’s cereal availability has been good and, in combination with a favorable policy environ- ment supporting the free movement of cereals in the region, has kept prices at near normal levels when compared to the last five years. Good pasture conditions have also helped pastoral and agropastoral households recover at least partially from last year’s crisis. Water and fodder availability have generally been much better this year than last year. As a result, animal health has improved and animal prices are higher. The pre-crisis indicators seen early last year at this time, such as extremely poor animal conditions, high rates of livestock death, abnormally high food prices, massive and early rural exodus and migration of pastoral and agropastoral households, sharp early increases in child feeding center admissions and policies restricting cross-border grain trade have not been observed this year.

Despite these positive food security trends, Niger will face high levels of acute malnutrition this year as it does every year, particu- larly in Maradi, Zinder and Tahoua. In these areas, child care practices, poor water quality, poor sanitation practices, inadequate ac- cess to health care and a monotonous diet of porridge which leads to lack of appetite (anorexia) together result in high levels of acute malnutrition every year, especially among children. As in similar years, malnutrition rates and admissions to therapeutic feeding centers are expected to rise steadily in 2006 from April until after the harvest in November. While this is still a serious problem re- quiring a sustained response, the situation is better than in 2005, when admissions rates to child feeding centers started to increase in January, much earlier than normal.

In addition to high rates of malnutrition, localized food insecurity in pastoral, agropastoral and agricultural areas of the country re- mains and could deteriorate further if adequate assistance is not provided and the approaching rainy season performs poorly. In the pastoral areas most affected by last year’s crisis, milk production remains below normal because animals were unable to reproduce as a result of the harsh conditions. Thus, in these pastoral areas, shortages of milk are likely to lead to a deterioration in the nutritional status of children over the course of the hunger season. In agropastoral and agricultural areas, if the rains start on time and are well distributed, it is likely that cereal prices will stabilize or even decline because traders, households and cooperatives will start to sell their old millet with the expectation of a good harvest. This will reinforce the supply and help to mitigate price increases during the hunger season. Pasture would also be available as soon as the end of August, helping to improve animal conditions, production and prices. However, if the rains are irregular or late, traders and others are likely to hold on to their stocks in anticipation of increased demand and higher prices, thus tightening the supply. Pasture regeneration will also be delayed, resulting in deteriorating animal con- ditions, shortages of animal products and low animal prices. The areas most at risk are those severely affected by the 2005 crisis, in- cluding North Tera, North , North and North Keita, as well as agricultural areas that have faced two or more con- secutive poor seasons, including Korghom and in and Garhanga in Keita.

A consensual emergency plan was drafted and approved by the government of Niger and its major partners. This plan envisions the reconstitution of the national security stock to 110,000 metric tons (MT) which will include 50,000 MT of physical stocks and the equivalent of 60,000 MT in cash. The emergency plan also aims to reinforce existing cereal banks, subsidized food sales, food for work programs and the provision of animal feed to pastoral households. Finally, the plan seeks to reinforce the capacities of nutri- tional centers and government employees to respond to the high levels of malnutrition faced by the country.

Niger 2006: Critical Events Timeline

For more information on Niger, please visit www.fews.net/niger