• IGAD Food crisis report shows that El Niño-induced enhanced rainfall improved food security in many areas, especially in Kenya.
• However, floods have caused significant displacement and affected cropping seasons in many places.
Image: HANDOUT
Kenya is among countries experiencing a worsening food insecurity crisis according to a recent global food crisis report.
The IGAD Regional Focus of the 2024 Global Report on Food Crises, revelled that there has been a persistent increase in acute food insecurity for the past five years.
The report pointed to a deepening food insecurity crisis impacting the IGAD region, encompassing Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
"While El Niño-induced enhanced rainfall has improved food security in many areas, especially in Kenya, floods have caused significant displacement and affected cropping seasons in many places," the report showed.
The food crisis report further showed that there were some notable improvements in 2024 in Kenya. There is a 64 per cent reduction in the number of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity.
This was attributed to favourable rains, a positive harvest and improved livestock production.
ASALs and Regional Development PS Kello Harsama noted that the number of people in need of assistance in the country has dropped from 1.5 million in February this year to one million in August.
He said 22 counties were categorised under the ‘normal’ phase except Kilifi which was in the alert category.
This is based on the range of environmental, production, access and utilisation indicators monitored.
They fell within their usual ranges as a result of good performance of March-April-May 2024 rainfall season and ongoing June, July, August, September light seasonal rains in western parts of Kenya.
The situation is expected to continue in normal phase. However, it is projected to improve in coming months as the onset of October-November-December short rains season nears.
He said strategic development of policies is the only solution to the perennial food insecurity and other disasters.
IGAD's executive secretary Dr Workneh Gebeyehu said climate extremes and economic shocks are leading to unprecedented levels of food insecurity, putting millions of lives at risk.
He said conflict exacerbates food insecurity, creating a vicious cycle that further destabilises communities.
“To make progress, we must address these interconnected issues by strengthening our collective efforts. We must also build the resilience of our communities and address the root causes of conflict to pave the way for long-term stability and development in our region,” Gebeyehu said.
The report revealed that approximately 62.9 million people, or 25 per cent of the analysed population in seven IGAD countries, are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity in 2024.
This figure represents an increase from 61.9 million in 2023, emphasising the critical nature of the situation and the necessity for immediate action.
“We are witnessing a fifth consecutive year of worsening food insecurity in the IGAD region. It is evident that a shift is necessary —from reactive emergency responses to a proactive—anticipatory approach. This will mitigate the impacts of shocks, safeguarding livelihoods and food security," said Farayi Zimudzi, FAO's subregional coordinator for Eastern Africa and Representative to the AU and UNECA.
"Furthermore, the catastrophic impacts of regional conflicts on food security and malnutrition underscore the urgent need for peace-building initiatives. It also calls for conflict-sensitive programmes that protect agricultural production and support rural livelihoods,” Zimudzi added.
The report called for an urgent need for concerted efforts to address the mounting humanitarian needs.