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Timor-Leste

Timor Leste: Acute Food Insecurity Snapshot | November 2022 - September 2023 (Published on February 14, 2023)

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Overview

Timor-Leste ranks 16th according to the World Risk Index, which indicates the country’s severe exposure, vulnerability, and susceptibility to shocks – as well as the lack of coping and adaptive capacities. Floods, in particular, have affected food insecurity significantly in 2022. During the current period of analysis (November 2022 to April 2023), corresponding to the lean season, nearly 300,000 people representing 22% of the total population face high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), of which 286,000 people (21% of the total population) are classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), and 13,000 (1%) in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). Urgent action is required to protect livelihoods, reduce food consumption gaps, and save lives and livelihoods of the people experiencing Crisis or Emergency food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above). Out of the fourteen municipalities, eleven are classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), whereas three municipalities are in IPC Phase 2 (Stressed). The main drivers of high acute food insecurity include high food prices, reduced purchasing power, and the persistent impacts of the COVID-19-pandemic as well as the 2021 and 2022 floods.

The projection period, May to September 2023, corresponds to the harvest / post-harvest season and shows a slight reduction of people classified in IPC Phase 3 or above, from 22% to 20%. Of this group, Ermera has 5% of its population in Phase 4 (Emergency), making up 1% of the total population in Phase 4 (Emergency). The main factor contributing to a slight improvement of food security is the expected positive impact of harvest, which generates agriculture-related employment opportunities, improves food availability in the market from local production, and increases food stock for households relying on agriculture. However, the positive results of the projection period will depend on the severity of climatic shocks such as floods and droughts, which will largely depend on how severely climatic shocks like floods will affect the 70% of the population dependent on agriculture. Moreover, people with unsustainable sources of income, which often generate irregular and inadequate income, will still find it difficult to obtain resources in order to mitigate their food gaps. Prices of local products are expected to decline during the post-harvest season; however, they will remain high compared to the pre-pandemic levels.