OVERVIEW
In 2023, it is estimated that nearly 1.8 million children under the age of five will likely be acutely malnourished, including around 1.65 million children in the resident population, 70,000 children from internally displaced households and 60,000 million refugee children. Of these, around 414,000 will likely be severely malnourished. Around 270,000 pregnant and lactating women are also expected to suffer from acute malnutrition, including around 16,000 among the displaced and refugee population. A slight increase in these figures compared to the 2021 IPC Acute Malnutrition (AMN) analysis and a general trend of deterioration in the nutritional situation can be noted. For the purposes of this analysis, nine provinces and 35 departments of Chad and the city of Ndjamena were analysed.
From January to May 2023, two provinces (Borkou and Wadi Fira) and six departments (Wadi Hawar, Amdjarass, Abdi, Barh Azoum, Mourtcha, Fada) will likely be in a Critical situation (IPC Acute Malnutrition [AMN] Phase 4) and 23 departments as well as the city of Ndjamena will likely be in a Serious situation (IPC AMN Phase 3). Six departments (Djourf Al Ahmar, Aboudeia, Kimiti, Chari, Baguirmi and Loug Chari) and Tandjilé province will likely be in an Alert situation (IPC AMN Phase 2) and six provinces in an Acceptable situation (IPC AMN Phase 1) (Mayo-Kebbi Est, Mayo- Kebbi Ouest, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul and Moyen Chari).
From June to September 2023, if adequate measures are not taken, a significant deterioration in the nutritional situation is expected. In this period, two provinces (Borkou and Wadi-Fira) as well as five departments (Wadi Hawar, Amdjarass, Abdi, Barh Azoum and Mourtcha) will likely remain in a Critical situation. In addition, fifteen departments (Fitri, Batha East, Batha West, Abtouyour, Guera, Magalmé, Kanem, Kanem North, Mamdi, Wayi, Ouara, Tibesti East, Barh El Gazel South, Barh El Gazel West and Fada) will likely move from a Serious to a Critical situation.
The major contributing factors vary from one unit of analysis to another. The main ones are the poor quality of food intake due to poor infant and young child feeding practices, the high prevalence of childhood morbidity, poor hygiene conditions and low access to drinking water. The negative effects of the volatile security situation in the North and Lake Chad, and inter-community conflicts in other parts of the country, have a negative impact on the nutritional situation. Household food insecurity appears to be a major contributing factor in most of the areas analysed. The advent of COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have had a negative impact on the purchasing power of households and the rise in the price of basic foodstuffs. It should be noted that in November 2022, 19 provinces out of 23 and around 1.3 million people were affected by rain/river floods.