Situation

The long rains ended early with significant rainfall deficits being experienced across the eastern half of Kenya, parts of southern Somalia, northeastern Ethiopia, and northeastern Djibouti. The June – September rainfall season is now well established in Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan, despite the late and erratic onset. In the central Ethiopian highlands, significant rainfall deficits have accumulated since the start of the season.

The lean season in most agricultural and agropastoral areas of the Horn of Africa (HoA) is almost over. Nearly all parts of the region are in Stressed and Crisis food insecurity situations (IPC Phase 2 & 3) with a few areas in Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia facing Emergency (IPC phase 4). The lean season is the period of the year that precedes the harvest. It is usually characterized by exhausting food storages, high food prices, low assets value, liquidity constraints and high malnutrition rates.

Cereal prices have continued to rise in the region mainly due to low market supply following seasonal trends, high regional demand and conflicts.

Source: FAO, FEWSNET and FSNWG