Twenty-Five (25) percent of people in seven Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) countries are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity in 2024.
Acute food insecurity occurs when a person’s inability to access enough food immediately jeopardizes their lives or livelihoods.
According to the IGAD Regional Focus of the 2024 Global Report on Food Crises released today, approximately 62.9 million people, an increase from the 61.9 million people in 2023 are food insecure and this therefore raises the necessity for immediate action.
The worsening conditions across the IGAD region call for an immediate and coordinated response from partners and member states to address the escalating humanitarian needs and mitigate the impacts of the food insecurity crisis.
The report says that for the last five years, deepening food insecurity crisis is impacting the IGAD region negatively and this calls for urgent efforts to address the mounting humanitarian needs.
The report further says the recent widespread floods associated with El Niño and persistent dry conditions in 2023 and the first half of 2024 have negatively impacted agricultural production in several other areas of the region.
Additionally, the displacement crisis in the region has reached unprecedented levels, with 25 million people forcibly displaced by mid-2024, marking the highest displacement figures on record.
Notably, the ongoing conflict in Sudan has internally displaced 7.9 million people since April 2023, making it the world’s largest internal displacement crisis.
IGAD’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu in the press statement today said conflict exacerbates food insecurity, creating a vicious cycle that further destabilizes our communities.
“To make progress, we must address these interconnected issues by strengthening our collective efforts, building the resilience of our communities, and addressing the root causes of conflict to pave the way for long-term stability and development in our region,” he stated.
Emphasizing on the importance of addressing socioeconomic concerns, Dr. Gebeyehu added that the figures illustrate a humanitarian crisis in the region with Climate extremes and economic shocks leading to unprecedented levels of food insecurity, putting millions of lives at risk.
Rukia Yacoub, World Food Programme (WFP’s) Deputy Regional Director for Eastern Africa said that the violence and insecurity in Sudan have driven millions of people to seek refuge both within their own country and in neighboring countries which are already grappling with high levels of food insecurity and instability.
“”The conflict in Sudan has triggered the world’s largest hunger crisis, with more than half the population struggling to put enough food on their plates every day. This is putting even more pressure on limited humanitarian resources,” said Yacoub,
FAO’s Sub-Regional Coordinator for Eastern Africa and Representative to the AU and UNECA, Farayi Zimudzi, noted, “We are witnessing a fifth consecutive year of worsening food insecurity in the IGAD region. It is evident that a shift is necessary”.
She added that there is need for reactive emergency responses to a proactive, anticipatory approach that mitigates the impacts of shocks, safeguarding livelihoods and food security.
Furthermore, Zimudzi said that the catastrophic impacts of regional conflicts on food security and malnutrition underscore the urgent need for peace-building initiatives and conflict-sensitive programs that protect agricultural production and support rural livelihoods.
Frequent and severe climate extremes have been significant contributors to regional food insecurity and this includes the lingering effects of a severe drought in the Eastern Horn of Africa from 2020 to 2023.
Economic challenges have further exacerbated the food crisis across the region with IGAD countries been hit hard by economic shocks, including currency depreciation, soaring inflation, and the volatility of global food markets, which have intensified food insecurity.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is a regional institution comprising eight East African countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda and assists member states in achieving food security, environmental protection, peace, security, and economic cooperation.
Food Security Information Network (FSIN) was founded by FAO, IFPRI, and WFP and coordinates the publication of the Global Report on Food Crises.
Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) brings together the European Union, FAO, UNICEF, the United States of America, WFP and the World Bank in a unique partnership to improve analysis, evidence, and consensus on the prevalence and severity of food crises.
By Wangari Ndirangu
