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Sahel – Food and Nutrition Insecurity (ECHO, CILSS, FAO, WFP, Fewsnet) (ECHO Daily Flash of 7 April 2016)

Sahel - Food and nutrition insecurity (ECHO, CILSS, FAO, WFP, Fewsnet)

More than 6 million people are in need of immediate food assistance for the period of March to May in the Sahel countries of Chad, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Nigeria. Vulnerable people in Nigeria account to 57 % of them. Food insecurity is forecast to deteriorate during the forthcoming lean season from June to August, with an estimated 8.1 million people identified in crisis in the Sahel.

In Chad alone more than one million people are facing a food crisis. Overall, food insecurity of populations affected by Boko Haram violence in the Lake Chad area is increasing. The situation in Northern Mali, the Sahelian areas of Niger and Burkina Faso, and West of Senegal also remains precarious.

Poor food consumption and high levels of Global Acute Malnutrition remain very prevalent in the Sahel, despite the overall favourable results of the agricultural campaign of last year. Adapted and coordinated early response is required to tackle these issues in the entire region.