Afghanistan Food Security Brief AFSTT Special Situation Brief—Post 2012/13 Season Vol. 1 Issue 1 August 2012 Key Findings verall, the food security situation was analyzed in16 provinces for August-September 2012. About 296,105 people in Badakhshan and Nuristan are classified in Phase 3- Crisis. An- other 9,234,100 people are classified in Phase 2- Stressed., and 7,383,509 in Phase 1. O In general, the food security status of analyzed provinces has improved considerably in August- September thanks to good rainfall and very good cereal production forecasted to reach 6.3 million MT, the highest in 35 years. Compared to 2011 when rain fed wheat extensively failed, area planted in 2012 is up 25% and yield up 270%. The availability of water and pasture has in- creased, leading to significant improvement in livestock productivity and value. The harvesting of staple crops are concluding, particularly in lowland areas, wheat prices are on the decline, un- skilled labour wages have significantly increased leading to overall improved food access. Hu- manitarian and Government interventions, such as food, feed and inputs distributions in most 2011 drought affected and recently natural disasters affected areas, control of plant pests and dis- eases among other contributed to improvements in food security. However, several shocks, particularly natural disasters, extreme weather, conflict, insecurity, and animal diseases, have contributed to acute food insecurity (stressed or crisis) of hundreds of thou- sands of people, most still struggling to recover from last year’s ordeals or recurrent droughts and natural disasters. Despite above average rains in many cases that led to significant recovery and Analysis carried out increased value of livestock, the food insecure are not able to benefit from it due to low livestock by the Afghanistan asset holding. The poorest hold few livestock which they have either lost parts of or all through Food Security mortalities, diseases and crisis sales. Insecurity is also disrupting market supply in many prov- Technical Team inces, leading to below normal/potential supply of food and other non-food commodities. (AFSTT) Physical utilization of food is generally inadequate in analyzed areas as evidence shows low access to drinking water, precarious household health environment and poor feeding practices. Inade- Published by the quate food consumption (quantity and quality) is causing malnutrition but poor health status is IPC Coordination / greatly contributing to the condition . Secretariat FAO– Afghanistan Table 1 : General Descriptions of IPC Acute Phases for Areas Dar-Ul-Aman Office Phase General Description More than four in five households are able to meet essential food and non-food needs without 1 Minimal engaging in atypical, unsustainable strategies to access food and income, including any reliance on humanitarian assistance. Contact: Even with any humanitarian assistance at least one in five households in the area have the [email protected] 2 Stressed following or worse: Minimally adequate food consumption but are unable to afford some essential non-food expenditures without engaging in irreversible coping strategies Even with any humanitarian assistance at least one in five households in the area have the following or worse: Food consumption gaps with high or above usual acute malnutrition; OR 3 Crisis Are marginally able to meet minimum food needs only with accelerated depletion of livelihood assets that will lead to food consumption gaps. Even with any humanitarian assistance at least one in five households in the area have the following or worse: Large food consumption gaps resulting in very high acute malnutrition 4 Emergency and excess mortality; OR Extreme loss of livelihood assets that will lead to food consumption gaps in the short term. Even with any humanitarian assistance, at least one in five households in the area have an 5 Famine extreme lack of food and other basic needs where starvation, death, and destitution are evi- dent. Afghanistan Food Security Brief Population Table Phase 3 or Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 higher Total Ru- Region Province ral Pop % % # % % # pp % pp # pp % pp # pp # pp # pp pp pp pp pp pp Laghman 419,300 356,405 85% 62,895 15% - 0% - 0% Eastern Nangarhar 1,225,000 1,163,750 95% 61,250 5% - 0% - 0% Nuristan 140,900 70,450 50% 35,225 25% 35,225 25% - 0% - 0% 35,225 25 Balkh 794,900 715,410 90% 79,490 10% - 0% - 0% Jawzjan 403,500 363,150 90% 40,350 10% - 0% - 0% orthern Samangan 341,000 289,850 85% 51,150 15% - 0% - 0% Sari Pul 491,100 392,880 80% 98,220 20% - 0% - 0% orth Takhar 812,200 771,590 95% 40,610 5% - 0% - 0% Eastern Badakhshan 869,600 260,880 30% 347,840 40% 260,880 30% - 0% - 0% 260,880 30 Ghor 650,500 520,400 80% 130,100 20% - 0% - 0% Western Hirat 1,280,100 1,088,085 85% 192,015 15% - 0% - 0% Central Bamyan 413,500 330,800 80% 80,200 20% - 0% - 0% Highlands Day Kundi 435,000 348,000 80% 87,000 20% - 0% - 0% Nimroz 131,700 101,409 77% 30,291 23% - 0% - 0% Southern Uruzgan 323,900 259,120 80% 64,780 20% - 0% - 0% South Paktya 501,900 351,330 80% 100,380 20% - 0% - 0% Eastern Total 9,234,100 7,383,509 80% 1,504,296 16.3% 296,105 3.2% - 0% - 0% 296,105 In Crisis: Nuristan About 25% of the population in Nuristan are classified to be in Phase 3- Crisis from August to September 2012 . The populations in this province faced several shocks this season, including avalanches with devastating effects on lives and liveli- hoods in Mandol district, human diseases outbreaks, notably measles in Wama districts, smut disease which seriously affected winter irrigated wheat in Waygal district, and high level of insecurity incidents which caused displacement of thousands of families in search of security. Moreover, no aid reached the most affected households, increasing use of crisis strategies to help cope during the hungry season when access is very limited. Overall, 80% of households that were affected by shocks in 2011 and 2012 reported that they did not recover, and for 62% of households if their economic situation did not improve over the previous year, it actually worsened (27%). Despite receiving more rain than the long term average (+41%), this under populated province is still short 9,200 MT of wheat. Food availability is inadequate as the few existing local markets are undersupplied, and generally disconnected from bigger markets in the region due to the lack of infrastructure. Also, access to food is severely affected by a mountainous terrain com- bined with lack of road networks and transportation to reach markets. Food prices have decreased from 2011 levels but in- creasing from 2010 (e.g., 25%-142%), thus limiting financial access of the poor households, especially those who do not own livestock and cannot take advantage of current higher prices. Wages, as in many other areas in Afghanistan, have increased but only by 20%. It is important to note that not one single formal credit provider institution exist in the entire province. Few households rely on migrant workers (23%) who mostly favour urban areas within the province to other destinations. Physical utilization of food is highly inadequate based on the analysis of household health environment which indicate ex- tremely low standard. The majority of households uses traditional means for sanitation (open pit) and cooking fuel (firewood), drinks and prepares food collected from unprotected water sources. More than 95% of households cook in the same room they sleep, which proves to be most problematic during the summer. Feeding practices are extremely poor in Nuristan; for example, a recent survey sampling some areas showed that over 37% of children received breastfeeding for less than one month, most receiving exclusive breastfeeding for only one or two days. In August-September, many households will continue to experience poor to borderline consumption as, on average, a high pro- portion have either deficient (46%) or borderline (15%) food intake in this province where poor dietary diversity is prevalent. A MUAC survey in the area last year was showing above emergency level (21% Global Acute Malnutrition). A volatile context and natural disasters are pushing affected people to displacement and erosion of livelihood strategies and assets. This year, only very few households have chosen to return. Page 222 Vol. 1 Issue 1 August 2012 In Crisis: Badakhshan In general, the province of Badakhshan is classified in Phase 3 - Crisis . It is estimated that about 30% of the popula- tion are in Crisis and 40% Stressed. This year, the province was hit by a series of avalanches, landslides, flash floods, and harsh winter weather which af- fected wheat, vegetables production and caused significant livestock loss. It is estimated that lack of feed caused the death of 41,000 and affected another 217,000 goats and sheep while the harsh weather killed about 3,000 livestock and affected ten times this number in all 28 districts. This has happened in a context of widespread poverty affecting 61% of the population and very low coping capacity as Badakhshan livelihoods are still affected by last year’s drought. About 97% of shock affected households have yet to recover. In the 2011/12 NRVA, an overwhelming 50.4% reported borrow- ing as their first source of income, and about 74% claimed to have a worse economic situation compared to the year be- fore. By end of May 2012, WFP food aid distribution amounted to 1,726.11 MT covering 101,300 beneficiaries. Estimations show that production of wheat comparative to last year has increased but wheat deficit still stands at 18,400 MT.