Food insecurity is easing in the Far North, but the situation is becoming worrisome in the Northwest and Southwest regions. In an October 2021 report on food security in the Far North, Northwest, and Southwest regions, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net) found that “the current harvest in the Far North region is improving the food security situation of poor households in Mayo Tsanaga, Mayo Sava and Logone-et-Chari.”

Although below average, in the Far North, "harvests are increasing local food availability and stabilizing food prices. Income from the sale of newly harvested agricultural products also improves access to purchases of other foods on the market," the NGO notes.

While the populations in the Far North are enjoying improved food security, those in the Northwest and Southwest are sinking further. "Increasing market dependence and above-average staple food prices combined with below-average incomes are expected to increase food consumption gaps, resulting in food insecurity crisis for poor households in the Northwest and Southwest regions, which will likely persist until January 2022," FEWS Net warns.

This concern is worsened by the depletion of last season's harvest and the heavy dependence of displaced families on humanitarian assistance, which is insufficient to meet their basic food needs.

D.M.