Good harvest levels and regular imports contribute to Minimal (IPC Phase 1) food insecurity
KEY MESSAGES
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Off-season harvests of maize, potatoes, fruits, vegetables, cassava, and palm oil will improve the quantity and quality of food in household diets between March and May. These harvests, coupled with average to above-average rice stocks from the recent 2015/16 main season harvest and imports, will ensure adequate food availability between February and September 2016.
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As the economy continues to strengthen, household livelihoods and incomes are returning to levels seen before the Ebola crisis, which in turn is improving food access. Most households will maintain seasonally normal food consumption levels, in line with Minimal (IPC Phase 1) acute food insecurity, through at least September 2016.
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International rubber prices have fallen sharply over the past several years, reducing incomes from labor work and rubber sales, particularly in Bomi, Montserrado, Margibi, and far eastern Bong counties. To cope, affected households are increasing charcoal production, migration, remittances, and borrowing but are still facing difficulties meeting their basic non-food expenditures. While they make up less than 20 percent of the total population in the affected counties, pockets of Stressed (IPC Phase 2) food insecurity amongst these populations are expected between February and September.