South Kordofan/Blue Nile Coordination Unit Humanitarian Update | June 2019
FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURE
Food stocks low
Despite a good harvest and improved food security indicators, the poor macro-economic conditions and insecurity suggests an expected turbulent and atypical lean season this year.
The FSMU reports in its latest quarterly report that “ It is still too early to know if there will be enough and consistent rainfall for a good harvest like last year. Political unrest in Sudan may bring about unpredictable conditions that could put populations in the monitored areas at risk. If market routes are disrupted or farmers are unable to reach their far farms, for instance, significant food insecurity could result.” The FSMU report further noted that “The overall level of food stocks exceeded measured stocks in 2017 and 2018, most likely because of improved access to far-farms during the harvest as reported in the October survey” and “severe and moderate food insecurity hit record lows this April, in part as a result of a bountiful main harvest in 2018. Household dietary diversity improved in April 2019 relative to April 2018, and household dependence on coping strategies decreased due to a solid jibraka harvest and a better main harvest in 2018.”1
CU field reports indicate a high economic vulnerability in the Western Jebels area where livestock is sold in large numbers because HHs need cash to buy food. Overall in the SPLM-N controlled areas there is an urgent need for seeds and working tools to make optimum use of this field preparation and planting season. In terms of measured food stocks, the last FSMU report indicates that “Food stocks in April 2019 are generally lower than they were in April 2018, with only 33 percent of households having stocks and only a handful of households with enough food stocks to last until the early jibraka harvest in August.”
Increasing numbers of people returning from government-controlled areas and food insecurity indicators counties to specifically watch this lean season would for instance be Thobo, Delami and Western Kadugli counties.
Full reports available:
English:
SKBN Humanitarian Update_June_2019_EN
Arabic: