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Nigeria + 6 more

West Africa Key Message Update, November 2018

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Food insecurity remains a concern in conflict areas

Key Messages

  • Despite flooding in several areas and damage from crop pests, the ongoing harvest is expected to be average to above average is improving household food availability and diversity and is contributing to revenues from partial sales of the harvest. The pastoral situation is generally satisfactory with good pasture and water availability. Additionally, the good availability of water will be beneficial for dry season crops.

  • Market supplies remain satisfactory and are supported by the intensification of ongoing harvests, destocking by traders and regular imports. Food prices are stable or declining compared to the previous month and last year at the same time, but generally remain above average. Weak household demand is expected to continue the downward trend in cereal prices to closer to average levels. Market functioning remains disrupted in the Great Lake Chad basin, northern and central Mali and the Liptako-Gourma region due to civil insecurity.

  • Most of the region will remain in Minimal (IPC Phase 1) until January 2019. However, Crisis (IPC Phase 3) will continue to affect the Diffa region of Niger due to the Boko Haram conflict and will also affect CAR due to the armed conflict. This situation could also affect the north-western and south-western regions of Cameroon, which are facing insecurity.

  • Households in northeastern Nigeria affected by the Boko Haram conflict continue to depend on humanitarian aid for access to food and are facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3!), while those who do not have access to assistance facing Emergency (IPC Phase 4). In nearby areas that remain inaccessible to humanitarian actors, the food insecurity situation could be similar or worse.