HIGHLIGHTS

• Overall food security situation in the Sahel remains stable, although localized food price increases and rising insecurity across the region cause concern

• U.S. Government (USG) provides an additional $56.5 million to food-insecure and conflict-affected Sahelian populations

In this Feed the Future video, narrator Matt Damon discusses efforts to turn the tide against global hunger and increase agricultural production around the world. The video was shown at the “Feed the Future: Partnering With Civil Society” event on September 27, 2012.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• On May 16, U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed warned that Yemen’s long-standing humanitarian crisis threatens to undermine recent moves toward political stability. RC/HC Ahmed called for increased support for humanitarian organizations, which continue to scale up efforts to meet the needs of IDPs, host communities, returnees, and other displaced populations.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Prolonged dry weather has triggered significant drought in northern Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)

• A U.S. Government (USG) preliminary damage assessment team is scheduled to begin assessments of drought-affected areas in the coming days

• To date, USAID has responded with reverse osmosis machines and other pre-positioned relief supplies

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

· Although the recent good performance of seasonal rainfall has enhanced water and pasture availability in most drought-prone areas of Ethiopia, populations in some belg-producing parts of eastern Ethiopia will likely continue to experience Crisis—Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) 3—level food insecurity through June due to delayed and poorly distributed February-to-May 2013 belg rains and resulting planting disruptions.

Fund will Spur Investment in African Agriculture Infrastructure
For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 9, 2013
USAID Press Office
202-712-4320

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• More than 87 percent of IDPs in southern Yemen have returned to areas of origin since July 2012 as a result of improved security conditions, according to the U.N. However, less than 11 percent of IDPs in northern Yemen have returned home due to protracted insecurity. A lack of basic services is an issue in both northern and southern areas.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

U.S. food assistance has been critical in helping more than three billion people in over 150 countries. Food assistance saves lives, helps people recover from crises, and addresses chronic poverty and malnutrition. Unfortunately humanitarian needs and the scope of food crises continue to expand while many countries, including ours, face increasing budget constraints. In 2011 alone, 206 million people were affected by droughts, floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters. Globally, 870 million people are chronically food insecure. The U.S.