FOOD SECURITY OVERVIEW

The food security and nutrition situation in Eastern Africa continues to be alarming. As of end of October 2024, there are an estimated 63.5 million food insecure people in Eastern Africa, a slight increase since last quarter.

As the conflict intensifies, more than three million people fled Sudan over the past 18 months, seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, while almost 11 million people are internally displaced.

Other than conflict, the heavy seasonal rains from June to September caused flooding that impacted more than 2 million people across the region. Those affected include 1,4 million in South Sudan, 681,248 in Sudan, 120,000 in Ethiopia, and 286,762 in Uganda. With the seasonal rains having ended in north of the region, flood waters have receded or expected to recede in some areas but will persist in parts of South Sudan.

The floods also disrupted agricultural crop production in localized areas of South Sudan, including in areas with the most food-insecure populations (classified under IPC 3+). This has affected the delivery of humanitarian assistance and is expected to worsen food insecurity due to insufficient food supplies after the harvest.

Better rainfall in the past two season improved food security in Somalia compared to a year ago. Nevertheless, food security is expected to worsen between October and December 2024, as belownormal Deyr rains are anticipated. Consequently, the number of people in IPC 3+ is projected to rise to 4.4 million, or 23 percent of the population.