Due to the below-normal February to May rains in 2012, the number of people who require emergency assistance through the end of the calendar year has increased from the humanitarian requirement document (HRD) figures released in February 2012. The regions noted with the highest increases are Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Amhara, Somali, and Oromia, in order of the expected increase in the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance.

The food security situation from October to December is expected to improve in the southern and southeastern pastoral and agropastoral areas due to seasonal changes as a result of the anticipated good rains from October to December 2012. The likely development of an El Niño would positively affect the performance of this season. However, the level of needs for humanitarian food assistance will remain high as a result of the effects of repeated droughts since 2010.