A Monthly Newsletter on Food Security and Vulnerability in Uganda Number 02/2001 15 February, 2001 Summary The NGO, Concern Worldwide, reports that households in Katakwi District (eastern Uganda) are experiencing moderate food insecurity. The most affected people are located in Kapelebyong and Usuk Counties on the border with Moroto District, where there is limited access to food and malnutrition rates are high. Only households in Magoro Sub-County of Usuk, received about 100 kg of maize and beans from another NGO, Hands on Service, in early December. No further assistance has been provided and there are no immediate plans to provide additional food aid to the affected people in the district. Because of the expected increase in demand on meager food supplies and other resources, many residents are worried about the Karimojong pastoralists and their normal dry season migratory pattern into Katakwi District in search of water and pastures for their livestock. Large livestock herds may cause destruction of crops and vegetation, increasing vulnerability to food insecurity and competition for already diminishing pastures. District authorities and local residents also are concerned about the possibility of increasing tensions and civil insecurity due to the presence of armed pastoralists. To ensure peace and security in the district, the Government has increased deployment of Uganda People’s Defence Force personnel. Concern Worldwide affirms that even though the population may require assistance after February 2001 when household food stocks run low, it is imperative for adequate civil security to be maintained to allow proper identification and targeting of the most affected households before carrying out any mitigation program for maximum benefit. In most districts of Uganda, the supply of crops continues to be good and has enabled households to replenish their stocks as well as ensure adequate household access to food. Except for Katakwi District, prevailing perennial crop and food conditions continue to be good and FEWS NET does not anticipate any major food shortages in the next six months. Crop supplies to the market are normal. Seasonally low prices improve access to food for households dependent on the market. Following relatively improved food conditions in Karamoja and limited donor response to its Emergency Operation (EMOP) 6235 for drought-affected people in the region, the WFP is reviewing the implications for an early end to the program by March 2001. In a January nutritional and food security survey of Kotido and Moroto Districts, Karamoja Region, the Uganda-based Oxfam GB found that the region’s nutritional and food security status has improved since the last assessment carried out in Kotido District in May 2000. The survey found that 7.6 percent and 7.3 percent of children experienced Moderate acute malnutrition in Kotido and Moroto Districts, respectively. Another 0.4 and 0.5 percent suffered from severe acute malnutrition in the respective districts. This compares favorably with the overall malnutrition rate of 10.7 percent in the previous assessment in Kotido District. However, this recent assessment was done just after the harvest, which may explain the improved results. This is expected to change toward the normal “hunger period” of March to July as the availability of food and milk diminishes, leading to a deterioration of nutritional status. The survey found a A USAID Project Managed by Chemonics International, Inc. ¨ P.O. Box 7856, Kampala, Uganda Telephone 256-41-231140 ¨ Fax: 256-41-231139 ¨ Email: [email protected] A Monthly FEWS NET Newsletter on Food Security and Number 02/2001 2 Vulnerability in Uganda 15 February 2001 higher number of malnourished children in the eastern arid pastoral belt along the Kenya border than in other parts. OXFAM therefore recommends that future surveys concentrate on 'food economy zones,' rather than administrative districts. The assessment also revealed that while overall livestock conditions were fair, pastoralists had begun their normal seasonal movement to neighboring districts in search of pasture and water. Oxfam recommends setting up a locally based early warning system in the various zones of Karamoja to regularly monitor food security conditions and therefore ensure adequate response and mitigation. 1. Review of Emerging and Continuing Humanitarian and Food Crises 1.1. Emerging Humanitarian and Food Crises The NGO, Concern Worldwide, reports moderate household food insecurity in Katakwi District. The most affected people live in Kapelebyong and Usuk Counties, where there is limited access to food and people are showing signs of high malnutrition rates. In December 2000, households in Magoro Sub-County (Usuk County) received a one-time distribution of food aid. However, there are no known plans for further assistance to the affected people here or elsewhere in the district. Increasing numbers of Figure 1: Katakwi District armed Karimojong pastoralists moving their livestock in search of water and pastures is worrisome as KOTIDO Kapelebyong Amuria it will place pressure on a projected Usuk increase in demand for already meagre food supplies and lead to a possible deterioration of civil LIRA MOROTO security. The Government of Kapelebyong Uganda (GoU) has deployed Uganda People’s Defence Force Amuria personnel to ensure peace and KATAKWI security. Many people in the Usuk district may require food aid after SOROTI February 2001 when the “hunger period” begins. However, to be effective, any mitigation responses KUMI must be contingent upon reliable Source: FEWS NET Uganda, February 2001 security in the area and target the most affected for maximum impact. According to Concern Worldwide, many households in Katakwi District, eastern Uganda, continue to experience harmful food insecurity conditions. The most affected areas are in Kapelebyong and Usuk Counties (Figure 1), on the border with Moroto District, where many people remain displaced and have limited access to food. Concern Worldwide further reports that malnutrition rates in these two counties are high. However, the NGO reports that conditions in other parts of the district are better. Following the report by Concern Worldwide on conditions in the district in early December 2000, Hands on Service, an NGO working in Magoro Sub- County, provided some 100 kg of maize and beans to each household in the sub-county. No A Monthly FEWS NET Newsletter on Food Security and Number 02/2001 3 Vulnerability in Uganda 15 February 2001 further assistance has been provided and there are no immediate plans to provide food aid to the affected people. There is increasing concern among residents about the growing presence of Karimojong pastoralists, who are moving into Katakwi District in search of water and pastures for their livestock in keeping with normal seasonal patterns. These pastoralists and their animals will increase the demand on meagre food supplies and other resources. Moreover, the presence of large livestock herds may destroy any remaining field crops and vegetation, increasing the risk to food insecurity and competition for already diminishing pastures. Furthermore, residents and district authorities are feeling a growing anxiety about the possibility of increased civil insecurity due to the likely movement of pastoralists into the district with assault rifles, as is their normal practice. For this reason, the Government of Uganda has increased its deployment of Uganda People’s Defence Force personnel to ensure peace and security in the district. Concern Worldwide affirms that although the population may require food assistance after February 2001, it is imperative that adequate civil security be maintained. This will allow for proper identification and targeting of the most affected households for any hunger relief or hunger mitigation program that might be carried out. 1.2. Continuing Humanitarian and Food Security Crises Generally, near-normal civil security conditions have been reported in Bundibugyo District, western Uganda, and Gulu and Kitgum Districts, northern Uganda, since the beginning of the year. Authorities report only isolated rebel attacks. This relative calm augurs well for increased household access to food from their fields. People and their goods move about relatively freely, and the supply of crops to rural and urban markets is adequate where the Market News Service (MNS) reports that prices are normal. Various NGOs and UN Figure 2: Distribution of Internally Displaced People in Uganda agencies, including UNICEF and the World Total Population Affected Food Program, are District (Estimated mid-2000) Population Percent actively working with the Bundibugyo 174,800 90,000 51.5 GoU to provide Gulu 469,700 370,781 78.9 Kitgum 499,100 82,645 16.6 humanitarian assistance Source: WFP Uganda and Regional Office, February 2001 to the IDPs. The WFP provides food aid to IDP in Bundibugyo, Gulu, and Kitgum through its Protracted Relief and Recovery Program (PRRO) 6176, in effect until March 2002, which is well supplied and for which there are no projected shortages. 2. Food Security Conditions and Prospects 2.1. Current Food Security Status Food stocks remain adequate and household access to food is good, generally ensuring satisfactory food security. The supply of crops from the second-season (August-December) continues to be good and has enabled households to replenish their stocks as well as ensuring adequate access to food for A Monthly FEWS NET Newsletter on Food Security and Number 02/2001 4 Vulnerability