ANGOLA FOOD SECURITY UPDATE July 2003 Highlights The food security situation continues to improve in parts of the country, with the overall number of people estimated to need food assistance reduced by four percent in July 2003 relieving pressure on the food aid pipeline. The price of the least-expensive food basket also continues to decline after the main harvest, reflecting an improvement in access to food. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the results of both the latest nutritional surveys as well as the trend analysis on admissions and readmissions to nutritional rehabilitation programs indicate a clear improvement in the nutritional situation of people in the provinces considered at risk (Benguela, Bie, Kuando Kubango). However, the situation in Huambo and Huila Provinces still warrants some concern. Household food stocks are beginning to run out just two months after the main harvest in the Planalto area, especially for the displaced and returnee populations. In response to the current food crisis, relief agencies in Angola have intensified their relief efforts in food insecure areas, particularly in the Planalto. More than 37,000 returnees have been registered for food assistance in Huambo, Benguela, Huila and Kuando Kubango. The current food aid pipeline looks good. Cereal availability has improved following recent donor contributions of maize. Cereal and pulse projections indicate that total requirements will be covered until the end of October 2003. Since the planned number of beneficiaries for June and July 2003 decreased by four percent, it is estimated that the overall availability of commodities will cover local food needs until end of November 2003. Improved Food Security Situation The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is undertaking an assessment in Huila to verify the food security situation of the old IDPs and resettled population in Caconda and Caluquembe municipalities, where these groups have been receiving food aid for the past two agricultural seasons. WFP expects that people in these areas have developed the means to cope without further direct assistance, and therefore plans to phase out its operations. Around 33,450 people are likely to be removed from the free food aid distribution plan and be shifted to FFW projects that will be identified by Government together with the communities. A number of nutritional surveys have indicated a stable to improving food security situation in specific areas. For instance, Medeins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Belgium reports that nutritional surveys conducted in April/May 2003 in IDP camps in Kuito reveal a stable to slightly better picture, with global acute malnutrition rates estimated at six percent (compared to seven in April 2002) and severe acute malnutrition at 0.3 percent. In Camacupa IDP camps, the nutritional situation is also stable. Simultaneous field security and rapid critical needs assessments were carried out in different areas of Bie Province, including Gamba, Caiei, Dando, Salombinge and Cangondo areas of Nharea Municipality and in Luando area of Cuemba municipality. Preliminary results indicate no critical food needs in these areas. A stable nutritional situation has also been reported by MSF Holland in Cambundi Catembo municipality. The report states that although malnutrition levels are low at the moment, the food situation needs to be closely monitored at the beginning of the lean period. Improved food security conditions have been reported in Kalandula municipality in Malange province. Many of the returnee farm families in Kalandula have begun to construct traditional granaries, where they are storing maize, peanut and bean seeds in preparation for the coming agricultural season. WFP field staff reported that many traders are coming to Kalandula to buy cassava from residents for re-sale in other areas of the province. The resurgence of trade in the area gives a clear indication that farmers have been able to produce a crop sufficient for the market and build seed reserves for the following cropping season. Continuing Food Insecurity Food insecurity remains high in areas where large numbers of returnees continue to arrive. The flow of people into Huambo Province from various family reception areas in the country is particularly high, with a further 6,340 people registered in the last week of June. The areas at highest risk to food insecurity are the localities of Bimbe and Hengue (Bailundo), Tchinhama and Tchiumbo (Catchiungo), Tchipeio (Ekunha), Chilata (Longonjo), Cambuengo (Mungo), Sambo, Samboto (TchicalaTcholoanga), Chiaca (Tchinjenje) and Mundundo (Ukuma). Results of the rapid food needs assessment conducted by the RFNA Group in the southern part of Samboto Commune (Huambo Province), provide clear indications of food insecurity among the returnee population. WFP plans to address the problem through agricultural recovery-oriented assistance. In Kuando Kubango, the influx of displaced people from Quembo, Tembo and Luengue areas continues, with 580 people arriving during the first week of July in search of humanitarian assistance that could not be delivered to their areas of origin due to continuing security restrictions. IDPs and returnees continue to need food aid in Mavinga, Cuangar, Cuito-Cuanavale, Cuchi and Menongue Municipalities. Emerging Food Crisis As the wet season approaches, the food insecurity situation in currently inaccessible areas is likely to deteriorate. Poor road access will limit the food supply through markets, moreover humanitarian agencies will face serious difficulties in reaching current food aid beneficiaries. The distribution of agricultural seeds and tools for the next cropping season will also be compromised. Table 1 shows areas that are likely to face a food crisis as road access conditions deteriorate. Table 1. Areas likely to face food crisis as accessibility conditions deteriorate Bie Benguela Huambo Kuanza Sul Municipality Locations Municipality Locations Municipality Locations Municipality Locations Cuemba Luando Balombo Chindumbo Bailundo Bimbe Mussende Mussende Munhango Maka-Mombolo Hengue Quipaxe Sachinemuna Bocoio Chila Luvemba Quienha Nharea Gamba Caimbambo Cayave Catchiungo Tchinhama Sao lucas Chitembo Soma-Kuanza Canhamela Tchiumbo Kassongue Dumbi Mumbué Uya-Ngombe T.Tcholoanga Sambo Atome Mutumbo Cubal Capupa Samboto Cela Sanga Andulo Cassumbe Tumbulo Tchinjenje Tchiaca Ringoma Camacupa Chongorói Camuine Umpulo Ganda Chicuma Catabola Sande Source: WFP Situation Report Page 2 of 7 Basic Food Basket Prices Continue to Decline after Main Harvest Prices of the least-expensive food basket have shown a steady decline since the beginning of the main harvest in April/May. (See Figure 1) The weekly price of the food basket has varied only marginally, as a result of adequate supply to Fig. 1. Average weekly cost of the maize-based food basket in the the markets. The gradual Planalto reestablishment of municipal markets brings with it 40.0 opportunities to work and trade. However, market price 35.0 ) differentials across municipal S$ 30.0 U ( t markets remain high, affecting e 25.0 sk the terms of trade between a b 20.0 d coastal towns and the interior. o o f In Benguela, the basic food f 15.0 o basket price differential showed st 10.0 a slight reduction – from an Co 5.0 average of 40 percent in June to about 35.7 percent in July. 0.0 Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Mar Apr Apr Apr Apr May May W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 The lowest and most stable food Wee ks basket price is found in the southern province of Huila Benguela Bie Huambo Huila Malange (US$ 13 per month). This is due to a combination of both Source: FWP VAM Database adequate availability of locally produced food as well as the good supply of imported foods from Namibia. Food prices in the cassava-based agriculture provinces of Uige, Malange and Zaire range on average from US$20 to $25/month, while the maize-based central regions have the highest prices at around US$ 35 per month. Persisting High Malnutrition Rates Despite general improvements in the nutritional situation, specific concerns remain over high rates of malnutrition reported in parts of the country. According to a UNICEF report, the nutritional situation seems to be particularly fragile in the outskirts of Huambo town. A nutritional survey carried out in May 2003 among children 6-59 months living in Huambo town showed a Global Acute Malnutrition rate (GAM) of <5%, while the Therapeutic Feeding Centres (TFC) in Bailundo and Caala registered in May 178 and 120 new admissions, respectively. WFP VAM has reported critical nutritional situations in the localities of Bimbe (Bailundo), Tchinhama (Catchiungo), Cumbira and Galanga (Londuimbali), Chilata (Longonjo), Cambuengo (Mungo), Mbave, Sambo and Samboto (Tchic.Tchol.), Tchiaca (Tchinjenje) and Cacomaand Mundundo (Ukuma). The poor nutritional situation results, in part, from limited access to those areas, which in turn limits the provision of adequate health services. Areas where the situation is less critical, but needs close monitoring include: Hengue, Lunge and Luvemba (Bailundo), Catataand Cuima (in Caála) Tchiumbo (Catchiungo), Tchipeio (Ekunha), Catabola (in Longonjo), Mungo (Mungo), Tchicala Tcholoanmga and Tchinjenje. UNICEF also reported that the nutritional situation in selected parts of Huila required close monitoring. A nutrition survey carried out in the former family reception areas of Matala in March 2003 showed the Page 3 of 7 highest GAM among children 5-59 months, at 7.4 percent, when compared with the other 9 surveys conducted this year in other parts of the country. It should be mentioned, however, that in June 2002, a survey conducted in the same area reported a much worse GAM rate of 18.7 percent. Food Stocks at Household Level Two months after the main harvest, household food stocks are already beginning to run out. Food reserve estimates reported in the last Vulnerability Analysis suggest that in the Planalto region as a whole, IDPs would be able to use their own harvests to meet their cereal and bean consumption requirements for an average period of 10 days, but some would be able to stretch to 51 days at a maximum.