Food Security Bulletin - 18 United Nations World Food Programme FS Bulletin, October 2007 Food Security Monitoring and Analysis System Issue 18 Editorial The monsoon created havoc in many of From 14-25 August an inter-agency WFP in partnership with NDRI and the Terai districts and caused landslides (WFP, UNICEF, SC Alliance) flood with technical input from UNICEF in numerous Hill and Mountain areas, assessment took place covering 13 and UNAIDS is currently undertaking severely impacting the food security flood affected districts in the Terai. A a migration study. The aim of the status of poor households, many of summary of the results of the study is to assess the viability of whom lost their houses, food stocks, assessment is provided on page 6 and short-term migration as a coping and assets. The monsoon rainfall had 7. strategy for poor households, with an overall positive affect on the food particular focus on communities Page 8 provides an explanation of security situation due to good cropping affected by natural disasters. Field WFP’s drought response in the Far-and conditions in most areas of the country. data will be collected from different Mid-West in communities affected by locations in Nepal, at the border This bulletin provides an update on the consecutive years of drought. with India and within India. current food security situation in Nepal The last section presents selected and identifies areas that require assistance and/or need close indicators providing an overview of monitoring. some broad trends in household food security. Food Security Hot Spots FOOD SECURITY PHASE MAP The food security phase classification 900,000 map for the period July – September Number of People at Risk 2007, is presented on page 4 and 5. It 800,000 is based on the latest information 700,000 collected by WFP field monitors in 41 600,000 districts (during July-August), and in 36 districts, including Rautahat and Sarlahi 500,000 (during September). Classification of 400,000 the food security status is based upon a Karnali belt 300,000 set of reference characteristics. A Far Western Hills description of these characteristics and and Mountains 200,000 Rapti Bheri Hills the alert level definitions are provided 100,000 Western Terai on the last page of this bulletin. Classifications are made by WFP field 0 Central and Eastern Terai monitors who have been trained to Central Hills and ensure consistency in data recording. Mountains Sept. '07 Grand Total Verification is done through Jul.-Aug.'07 Mar.-Apr. '07 May-Jun. '07 Jan.-Feb. '07 Jan.-Feb. Sept.-Oct. '06 Sept.-Oct. '06 Nov.-Dec. consultation with district government officials local and international NGOs Chart 1 – Number of people at risk and triangulation with other data half a million people during the period This is indicated by the blue shaded sources. July-September 2007. lines in Chart 1. The Terai is the exception (see orange shaded lines). Table 1 provides the breakdown of the CURRENT HUNGER HOTSPOTS Due to the impact of the flood, the number of people at risk of food Although the total number of people at number of food insecure people has insecurity by district at the end of risk of food insecurity has increased increased dramatically. With a higher September 2007. Landslides in the Hills (see Chart 1), in most monitoring population density in the Terai districts, and flooding in the Terai were the main clusters the number of people at risk of the total number of people at risk of shocks faced by households causing food insecurity has declined. food insecurity increased to a little over Food Security Bulletin increased food insecurity in several during July-August period. No updated areas. Several VDCs were affected by districts. information for September is available. landslides. I. THE KARNALI The overall food security situation in Warning of Acute food and deteriorating food Total Population the Karnali districts has improved due SN District livelihoods crisis insecurity at Risk to good monsoon rains. The production Phase 3 Phase 4 of wheat and barley was normal to I. Karnali belt good in most areas compared to last 1 Kalikot 1,468 - 1,468 year. In addition, the maize harvest has 2Jumla No data - been completed in the lower mountain 3Humla No data - areas, the production is better than last 4Dolpa - - - 5Mugu No data - year. Sub-Total 1,468 - 1,468 II. Far Western Hills and Mountains In Kalikot the food security situation in 6Bajura - - - the VDCs of Odanaku, Chhapre, Thirpu, 7Achham - - - Khina, Dhoulagoh, Nanikot, and 8 Bajhang No data - Ramnakot improved from a warning to 9 Baitadi 832 - 832 a seasonally food insecure status as a 10 Darchula 150 - 150 11 Dadeldhura 225 - 225 consequence of delivery of WFP Sub-Total 1,207 - 1,207 emergency assistance and harvesting of III. Rapti Bheri Hills maize crop. Although the maize harvest 12 Dailekh 336 - 336 was lower than normal (10-20%) it was 13 Rukum No data - good compared to last year. The area 14 Jajarkot - 2,400 2,400 has been affected by drought for three Sub-Total 336 2,400 2,736 IV. Western Terai consecutive years and in April/May 2007 15 Banke 49,500 - 49,500 the production of wheat and barley was 16 Bardiya 27,300 - 27,300 reduced by 40%. Last year’s summer 17 Kailali 17,800 - 17,800 crop was lost as well in Odanaku and Sub-Total 94,600 - 94,600 Chhapre VDCs due to hailstorm. The V. Terai and Eastern Mid Hills situation in Malkot, Kumalgaun, and 18 Sunsari 30,400 - 30,400 19 Saptari 141,500 6,600 148,100 Rupsa VDCs improved from acute to 20 Siraha 71,300 21,600 92,900 warning level of food insecurity. These 21 Udayapur 10,140 - 10,140 VDCs were hit by a hailstorm in April, 22 Dhanusha 52,100 - 52,100 which resulted in crop losses by more 23 Mahottari 32,800 - 32,800 than 50%. Prospects are however 24 Sarlahi 14,100 - 14,100 encouraging. In other VDCs, the maize 25 Rautahat 10,100 - 10,100 26 Bara 5,500 - 5,500 production was normal and most 27 Parsa 9,900 - 9,900 households in the areas are expected to Sub-Total 377,840 28,200 406,040 have sufficient access to food until the Grand Total 475,451 30,600 506,051 paddy harvest in December. Table 1 – People at risk In Darchula and Bajhang districts, Dolpa district is mostly food secure. In Humla, Limi, Muchu, and Simikot income from Yarchagumba collection The winter crop production in middle VDCs were at warning levels of food largely contributed to improved and lower Dolpa was good and income insecurity in August because the winter household food security. The good from the Yarchagumba collection was crops were badly affected by drought. maize harvest further improved the good. More than 6,000 households Limi and Muchu VDCs were further hit situation in Darchula. The maize earned an average of NRs. 50,000 from by flood during the month of July which production in Iyarikot and the collection of Yarchagumba. The affected more than 300 people. Data Khandeshwari VDCs decreased by more maize production was normal to good in for the month of the September are not than 60% due to landslide and strong most VDCs. In Dunai and Narku the available. wind. VDCs in the southwest of production decreased by approximately Darchula were also affected by II. FAR WESTERN HILLS AND 20% due to insufficient rainfall. The landslides. No data is available for outlook for Dolpa is good for this fall. MOUNTAINS Most of the districts in the Far-West Bajhang for September. have changed from a seasonal food Most of Mugu district is food secure. In Baitadi district, several VDCs were insecure phase in August to a food However, the situation deteriorated in affected by landslides in August. secure phase in September. On Bhie and Ruga VDCs where the winter Because of this, some pocket areas in average, the winter crop production crop failed due to severe drought. Signs the northern part of Baitadi are at was better than last year. The maize of severe malnutrition were observed warning level of deteriorating food production was normal in most of the insecurity. -2- Food Security Bulletin III. THE RAPTI BHERI HILLS Rayale), and Rasuwa (Laharepauwa, The food security situation in Dailekh Dhaibung, Bhorle, and Saramthali). In and Jajarkot districts has considerably Sindhupalchowk, the millet improved since end August. The maize production in a few VDCs in the production in Dailekh was higher than southwest is expected to be 10-20% last year. However in the northern part lower than normal due to excessive of the district, maize production was rainfall. The situation in the northern lower due to drought and late planting. part of Udayapur has further improved For most households in Dailekh the food however some VDCs in the south were security situation is normal. In Jajarkot heavily impacted by the flood, pushing the maize production was good them into a warning phase. The food compared to the last two years and security situation in these VDCs is most households should have sufficient however not expected to deteriorate access to food in the coming months. further as food supply is regular to these areas. The maize harvest has Maize harvesting has been completed in been completed and early harvest of Salyan, Surkhet, and Rolpa districts. paddy is going to happen shortly. In The production was normal or higher Makwanpur and Chitwan, the chronic than normal in Salyan and Surkhet. In food insecure areas are home to Rolpa, maize production decreased by indigenous groups such as the 10-20% in Pachhawang, Iribang, Chepang, Bote, Tamang, Rai and Jankot, and Karet VDCs.