Malawi: Food Security DoDMA-UNRCO Situation Report No. 04, January to February 2017 (as of end of February 2017)
- Countries
- Malawi
- + 2 more
- Sources
- Govt. Malawi
- + 1 more
- Publication date
This report is jointly produced by the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Government of Malawi, the United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator and humanitarian partners in Malawi.
Highlights
• In May 2016, the Malawi Vulnerability Annual Assessment Committee (MVAC) revealed that 6.5 million people, about 39% of the total population was at risk of food insecurity in 24 of the 28 districts. However, in October 2016, a field assessment to update the situation reported that the number had increased to 6.7 million people.
• WFP’s weekly price monitoring at the end of February shows that maize prices are declining across all the 25 monitored districts compared to previous weeks (from 270 MWK/kg in January to 250 MWK/kg) and were 20 percent lower than the same time last year. However, monthly prices were still 119 percent higher than 2015 prices and 30 percent higher than the previous three-year average.
• Rainfall in January and February resulted in flooding in parts of Lilongwe and Salima, affecting 1008 and 1836 households respectively. The impact was a combination of loss of houses and subsequent displacement, damage to crop fields, roads education and hygiene facilities. The needs are being addressed by government and humanitarian agencies.
• The number of asylum seekers in Malawi continues to increase at a weekly average rate of 15 individuals during January and February for Luwani, and an average monthly rate of 450 during the same period in Dzaleka. There has, however, been a sharp reduction in arrivals in Luwani from its peak in April 2016, with a gradual increase from less than 2000 people in April to 3496 people as of February 2017. The continual increase in Dzaleka camp is a result of the endless insecurity problems in their countries of origin, most of whom come from Congo DR and Burundi, where there is continuous political instability.
• The response continues to be characterized by underfunding and delayed funding, for example, at present with less than one month left of the response, there is a funding gap of 10.5 percent (US$41,336,174.31).