African Drought Causing Food Shortages and Early Migration

Wednesday, 22 February 2012

Background

Persistent drought has reduced the harvest yield in the Sahel belt of Africa, which will lead to a severe shortage of food. Worried farmers in the worst affected areas are migrating with their families to ensure they have access to food. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warns of an impending humanitarian crisis if urgent action is not taken.

Comment

A lack of rain in many countries in Africa’s Sahel region has led to lower than expected crop harvests this season. Some countries, such as Chad and Mauritania, have harvested only half the quantity required to feed their populations, leaving more than 10 million people vulnerable to food and water insecurity. Local agricultural production is vital to maintaining food security in the Sahel, and the inconsistent seasonal weather is having a severe impact on the region’s food supply. The area’s livestock has also been affected by a reduction in the amount of fodder available. Some farmers are now having to sell their cattle to provide an income that will allow them to purchase food for their families. The problem is that cattle are being over-sold, which may lead to the loss of whole herds.

Drought in the Sahel is further disrupting the livelihoods of those living in areas already suffering from widespread poverty. In some villages, the situation has become so severe that thousands of residents are migrating to other areas, in the hope of finding food and suitable locations to raise cattle. Whole villages are now deserted, as people take preventive measures to ensure their survival as the threat of food shortages looms. The last recorded rainfall was just three months ago, yet much of the vegetation has already disappeared and the levels of captured water are extremely low.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has estimated the number of people threatened by severe food shortages, as a result of the current drought, at more than 11 million. It cites Niger, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Burkino Faso and some parts of Senegal, as the worst affected areas. The same organisation predicts this number could rise to 23 million if immediate aid is not forthcoming. Exacerbating the detrimental effects of the drought are pest attacks on crops and local flooding.

These conditions, amid a backdrop of sharply rising food prices, are placing enormous pressure on the security of food and water for the region’s inhabitants. The International Federation claims that the situation could escalate into a major humanitarian crisis if urgent action is not taken immediately. The next harvest in the Sahel is still nine months away, which is longer than the region’s families can wait for conditions to improve. To remove the short-term threat of food insecurity, an increased level of aid is essential. United Nations spokeswoman Corinne Momal-Vanian says international agencies, aware of the impending crisis, have collected US$135 million ($126.78 million). However, US$720 million ($676.18 million) in aid is needed to remove the threat of food insecurity for the entire Sahel region in 2012. .

Jay Vella

Research Analyst

Global Food and Water Research Programme

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