Eswatini

Conflicts and climatic shocks aggravate current food insecurity in many countries

Some 39 countries in need of food assistance - FAO expects slightly lower global cereal production

20 September 2018, Rome - Persistent conflicts and climate-related shocks are currently driving high levels of severe food insecurity, particularly in Southern African and Near East countries, which continue to require humanitarian assistance, according to a new report published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today.

Highlights

In the southern African region, maize prices are already beginning to show mixed trends. In South Africa and Tanzania, maize prices remain below their respective 5 year average (5YA) levels, while in other countries, such as Malawi and Mozambique, maize prices are on an upward trend and closing in on their 5YA levels.

A look at the Alert for Price Spikes (ALPS) shows that in both June and July, a few markets in Zambia were already showing signs of stress.

In Numbers

8.4 million people food insecure in Eswatini,
Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe

4.3 million people to receive food, cash or vouchers to address immediate lean season needs

Additional USD 271 million required to meet the food needs in the six countries over the lean season (October 2018 - April 2019)

Highlights

• The start of the lean season in Southern Africa is imminent and millions require food assistance to meet their needs.

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) monitors trends in staple food supply and price trends in countries at risk of food insecurity. The Regional Supply and Market Outlook report provides a summary of regional staple food availability, surpluses and deficits during the current marketing year, projected price behavior, implications for local and regional commodity procurement, and essential market monitoring indicators.

Overview

The SADC Region Food and Nutrition Security Strategy 2015-2025 emphasises that the regional food and nutrition security situation remains unstable and unpredictable.

Almost 16% of SADC’s rural population have been consistently designated food insecure over the past 5 years. This despite improved production in some Member States.

OVERVIEW

FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT

• Maize production estimated to have increased moderately in 2018 due to overall beneficial weather

• Imports of cereals forecast to fall in 2018/19 marketing year reflecting larger domestic harvest

• Prices of maize decline on account of lower import prices and ample national supplies

• Number of food insecure declines in 2018, but concerns remain in eastern regions due to impact of dry spells on agricultural production

Eswatini: Forced evictions expose flawed land laws as hundreds face homelessness

The Eswatini government must halt forced evictions which have left hundreds of people homeless and pushed them deeper into poverty, Amnesty International said in a new report today.

Key messages

• The 2017-18 rainfall season was characterized by a late start, an extended mid-season dry spell (December-January) and heavy rains from February into April. The dry spell caused moisture stress and wilting of the early planted crops in many areas in Botswana, south-western Madagascar, southern Malawi, southern and some central parts of Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

• EUR 36.4 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the second phase of the Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project.

Aug 20, 2018 | Southern African Development Community
Windhoek, Namibia

Ce rapport d’activité fait la synthèse des activités du Résultat 5, connu également sous le nom de l’initiative de financement des risques de catastrophes en Afrique, appelée « ADRF » (Africa Disaster Risk Financing) ou « l’Initiative ADRF », entre le 1er juillet 2016 et le 30 juin 2017. Ce rapport donne un aperçu des activités accomplies jusqu’à cette date, tout en relevant les priorités et les enjeux à venir.

Highlights

Across the southern African region, maize supplies have improved seasonally with the ongoing harvest, and prices have generally been on a downward trend since March. In most countries, staple food prices are below their 5 year average (5YA) levels.

Yet, in pockets of areas reporting poor harvest, households are expected to deplete their stocks earlier than usual this year and turn to markets for their supply; prices in areas such as southern Malawi, southern Mozambique, and central and southern Zambia could tick upwards sooner than usual.

The Kingdom of Eswatini has surpassed the target set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for deworming coverage and obtained 85% during the third round of the Mass Medicine Administration (MMA) campaign. The annual campaign was conducted from 11 to 27 June 2018.

This overview document presents incidents affecting aid delivery in 12 countries in Southern Africa in 2017. The report is based on incidents identified in open sources and reported by Aid in Danger partner agencies using the Security in Numbers Database (SiND). In 2017, 224 security incidents affecting NGO staff members, programmes and assets were reported. The total number of reported incidents below reflects the willingness of agencies to share information. It is neither a complete count nor representative.

The **FAWRisk-Map** incorporates diverse socio-economic and agro-ecological data so that responders can visualise where the underlying risk of household **food insecurity** due to Fall Armyworm is highest. The tool consists of a number of layers allowing users to disaggregate risk into its constituent parts. By highlighting potential "hotspots", the tool is intended to assist decision-makers in prioritising and preparing for early action in targeted areas.

OVERVIEW

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