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The Crisis (IPC Phase 3) Consequences are expected to be widespread in areas of Zimbabwe, southern Malawi and southern Mozambique affected by El Niño drought, and the Crisis (IPC Phase 3) Consequences are expected to be widespread by 2019. The number of people facing this is expected to increase. Consequences of the crisis (IPC Phase 3) are also ongoing in the conflict areas of Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sporadic attacks continue in the Cabo Delgado region of northern Mozambique, and clashes continue in the Democratic Republic of Congo despite a ceasefire agreement. This has resulted in displacement and continued below-average access to common livelihoods. But stress! (IPC Phase 2!) results can be seen in several areas of Mozambique where food assistance is available. Meanwhile, stress (IPC phase 2) consequences are likely to continue in Madagascar’s Grand South and Grand South East, where households still have access to recently harvested roots, tubers and rice. Humanitarian food assistance is gradually beginning to reach areas in the region. Food assistance began in two districts in Malawi in September, with plans to expand to further districts in the south and central region in the coming months. In addition to continued support in conflict-affected areas, Mozambique has secured funding to cover around 350,000 people affected by drought, with assistance beginning in October and November. We plan to do so. In southern Madagascar, food aid is expected to gradually increase from October, when the poor harvest season begins. However, resource mobilization to cover the desired goals is still underway across the region. Food prices continued to rise in most countries in the region due to depleted stocks and increased demand. The Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) increased the price of maize grain by about 30 percent in September due to a shortage of maize grain imports and increased demand in Malawi. Maize, beans and cassava prices in Malawi were more than 160 percent higher than the five-year average. In Zimbabwe, a significant increase in the parallel market exchange rate in September increased basic food prices in both the local currency and the US dollar, causing the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to devalue the ZWG by nearly 43 percent. In Mozambique, rice and maize meal prices stabilized from July to August, although both remained 25% higher than the five-year average. In some parts of Madagascar, sweet potato prices have increased by about 74% year-on-year due to depleted stocks from recent harvests. In the DRC, maize and rice prices have remained stable with slight month-on-month increases, but remain out of reach for most poor households. With average to above average rainfall expected and a timely onset of rainfall expected across the region, most households have already begun preparations for the next planting season. Increased agricultural activity, especially land preparation, is improving access to labor opportunities for poor households after the long dry season. In Zimbabwe, irrigated tobacco planting, which began in early September, is also helping to improve labor opportunities. However, wage rates and incomes are expected to remain below average due to illiquidity and limited in-kind payments from wealthy households.
Recommended citation: FEWS NET. Southern Africa Key Message Update September 2024: 2024 Crisis (IPC Phase 3) expected in drought- and conflict-affected areas until early 2025.
