Attachments
Key Messages
- In the municipality of Djibo, staple goods in the main market have been unavailable since July due to long supply delays (the last supply occurred in April 2024). The absence of market supplies has caused strong demand pressure on the limited available harvests. Furthermore, the minority of households that were able to produce within a limited radius of the dam have been forced to share or sell part of their marginal harvests of cowpeas or rice. The monsoon season and repeated threats from armed terrorist groups have disrupted the normal flow of assistance (which continues to be the main food source for most households), resulting in Crisis! (IPC Phase 3!) outcomes.
- According to key informants, around 30 percent of households in Djibo have started production activities around the dam; however, the harvests (primarily vegetables) will only be seasonally available and abundant between January and March. Given the observed shortages, the market must be quickly supplied to prevent a deterioration in food access and consumption. However, simply supplying the market will not significantly improve households' food access due to livelihoods asset losses and the low income from remittances from relatives, the sale of water, and petty trade. Humanitarian assistance must continue at substantial levels to prevent Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes between January and May 2025.
- In municipalities with significant security challenges and a high presence of displaced persons (such as Titao, Arbinda, Gorom-Gorom, Markoye, Sebba, and Diapaga), households have harvested enough for two to three months of consumption. However, due to long delays in market supply via escorts or delivery of food assistance, households continue to reduce both daily meal numbers and meal sizes to stretch their food stocks, leading to Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes. Although security radii are improving in some municipalities, low income from the marginal sales of new harvests, remittances from relatives abroad, and the sale of wood, fodder, water, or gold panning are insufficient to meet food and non-food needs or to rebuild livelihoods.
- Across the country, supply to major markets remains significantly below normal. New harvests, especially cereals, are not yet adequately available on markets, and insecurity continues to limit internal flows. Additionally, the typical maize flows from coastal countries, which seasonally supplied the markets starting in August, are slowing due to production declines (as in Ghana) or restrictive measures taken by some of these countries (e.g., Ghana, Benin). Overall, staple cereal prices remain above last year’s average (16 percent for maize and sorghum, 25 percent for millet) and the five-year average (41 percent for maize, 50 percent for sorghum, and 53 percent for millet). The high prices continue to negatively impact the purchasing power of households, especially in urban centers.