FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
1. Favourable rains bring relief to drought-affected pastoral areas
2. 120 000 people estimated to be in need of emergency assistance
Favourable rains mitigate food insecurity in pastoral areas
Unseasonable rains in late February together with an early onset of the 2010 Diraac/Sougoum rainy season are improving the availability of pasture, browse and water especially in pastoral coastal areas. Far from guaranteeing the full recovery of the livestock sector that will require a longer period of favourable weather conditions, the current situation is likely to have a positive impact on animal body conditions and milk productivity, increasing sale opportunities and income generation.
The pastoral economy is likely to face increased competition in livestock trade after the decision in November 2009 by Saudi Arabia to lift the nine-year embargo on the livestock originating from Somalia. In addition, some livestock exports from Ethiopia may be routed away from Djibouti, to be transported by truck to the port of Berbera in Somaliland.
Food insecurity remains high in coming months
In general, the overall food security situation, and especially that of pastoralists, continues to be serious due to the substantial reduction in the herd size following several poor rainy seasons and to the persisting high food prices that progressively have reduced access to food for the most vulnerable groups. The number of people requiring emergency food and non-food aid is currently estimated at 120 000 people, representing about half of the rural population. Food insecurity among poor urban households is also expected to remain high during the coming months due to high prices of staple food, high unemployment rates and reduced remittances.