Food availability has improved in early 2020 compared to late 2019, but the delayed unimodal maize harvest, below-average beans harvest, and tight regional supply are still driving high maize and bean prices. Despite reductions in the prevalence of acute malnutrition at the county level, ‘Critical’ (GAM WHZ 15.0- 29.9 percent or GAM MUAC 10-14.9 percent) acute malnutrition persists in Isiolo, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, most of Turkana, parts of Marsabit (Laisamis, North Horr), and Tiaty sub county in Baringo. According to FAO’s Desert Locust Watch and confirmed by the KFSSG’s short rains assessmen, there is ongoing hatching of locust nymphs and formation of immature swarms in northern and central counties. Through December 2020, income-earning opportunities in affected sectors are expected to remain constrained, particularly in urban areas. The wholesale price of a kg of beans is expected to be approximately 55-60 percent above average throughout the scenario period, peaking at about 120 KES. Crop and livestock production: Food availability has broadly improved in early 2020, though crop losses in unimodal, high and medium potential agricultural areas due to the atypically heavy rains has resulted in tighter-than-normal supply. Although floods in late 2019 caused crop and livestock losses, the above-average 2019 short rains season led to favorable harvests in most marginal agricultural areas as well as above-average livestock sale values and milk productivity. However, as anticipated in October due to funding constraints, WFP cut rations down to 70 percent of daily kilocalorie needs and this will persist throughout the scenario period. Learn more here. The United Nations humanitarian office said Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020 it is releasing $100 million in emergency funding to seven countries at risk of famine in Africa and the Middle East amid conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic, while the humanitarian chief says returning to a world where famines are common would be "obscene." The government's spokespersons have been at their worst peddling fake news concerning the number of people sacrificed to FG … Similarly, the wholesale price of dry beans ranged from 18 to 40 percent above the five-year average in urban reference markets and from near average to 14 percent above average in rural markets. The 62,000-square-mile triangle of the Indian Ocean has made the two neighbors … The organization estimates that, across the 46 countries it monitors, 113 million people will need humanitarian food aid in 2020. The money breaks down as follows: $15 million to Afghanistan, Burkina Faso $6 million, Congo $7 million, northeastern Nigeria $15 million, South Sudan $7 million and Yemen $30 million. Kenya drought: More than a million people face starvation. The start of the dry season in January has permitted normal livelihoods activities to resume, which has enabled recovery to Stressed (IPC Phase 2) area-level outcomes in most areas of concern. In northeastern Kenya, clashes between Somali and Jubaland defense forces affected Mandera town in late February, suspending livelihood activities and market operations. February SMART surveys were carried out in Isiolo and Tana River counties, where global acute malnutrition (GAM) prevalence was measured by weight-for-height z-score (WHZ),  and NDMA sentinel site data was collected in other counties, where GAM was measured by middle upper arm circumference (MUAC) measurements. Veterinary department interventions have also proven instrumental to limiting livestock disease outbreaks and maintaining livestock health. The easing of rainfall during the January to February dry season permitted the completion of both the delayed, unimodal long rains harvest in high and medium agricultural areas in western Kenya and the bimodal short rains harvest in marginal agricultural areas in central and southeastern Kenya. In late February, NDVI data showed vegetation greenness was upwards of 140 percent of normal across most of the country and 105-120 percent of normal in western and northeastern Kenya (Figure 3). The number of hungry people in Asia is roughly 515 million. NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The United Nations humanitarian office is releasing $100 million in emergency funding to seven countries at risk of famine in Africa and the Middle East amid conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic, while the humanitarian chief says returning to a world where famines are common would be “obscene.”. The information provided on this Web site is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the U.S. Government. This trend is likely to broadly continue through the June to September dry season, given the positive effect of two consecutive above-average rainfall seasons on household income from livestock production. Increased security could lead to re-opening of the border, which would likely improve Kenya-Somalia cross-border trade by increasing both the demand and supply of livestock and staple foods, respectively. Although Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes are expected in most livelihood zones at the area level, inaccessible, insecure areas in Northern Pastoral livelihood zone are most likely to deteriorate to Crisis (IPC Phase 3) during the lean season. Consequently, livestock are being watered twice as regularly across all pastoral areas except in Wajir and Isiolo, where the frequency remains normal at once every two days. Sporadic cattle raids also affected market operations at the border of West Pokot and Turkana at Kainuk, but the situation has since returned to normal. However, field assessment information collected by the KFSSG in February shows that poor households’ livestock holdings in terms of tropical livestock units (TLUs)[1] remain below the 10-year average due to losses during recent droughts and floods as well as distressed sales. The global hunger crisis caused by conflict – and now compounded by COVID-19 – is moving into a dangerous phase, the head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Thursday, stressing that without resources, a wave of famine could sweep the globe, overwhelming nations already weakened by years of instability. The number of people discovered across the world to be hungry is roughly above 800 million.. Cumulative rainfall was 140-350 percent of the 1981-2010 average across the country, leading to large-scale floods that caused landslides, contaminated the water supply, caused crop and livestock losses, and destroyed critical health, irrigation, road, and social infrastructure (Figure 1). In addition, the floods killed an estimated 30,000 heads of livestock. Similarly, surface water availability ranges from normal to above normal, though some water sources were destroyed by floods. New York, NY, December 3, 2020 — The International Rescue Committee is extremely concerned by the findings of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) that classified parts of Yemen as experiencing ‘famine like conditions’, with over 47,000 people projected to fall into this category in the next 6 months. Given that favorable rangeland resources will most likely support good livestock body conditions, most households are expected to limit livestock sales in order to restock their herds, and quarantines may be imposed in response to RVF outbreaks which will further restrict market supply, livestock prices are expected to be sustained at moderately to significantly above average prices throughout the scenario period. Based on current above-normal vegetation, the above-average rainfall forecast, and anticipated desert locust control operations, rangeland resources are expected to remain broadly above normal throughout the scenario period. Crisis (IPC Phase 3) would be likely in vulnerable pastoral areas, while more households would experience Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes across the country. The anticipated balance is near the five-year average of 3.147 MMT, but due to population growth and increased household consumption levels that is eight percent above the five-year average, the ending stocks in June are projected to be 0.1 MMT, 52 percent below the five-year average and indicative of a deficit. Humanitarian assistance is expected to continue across the country as vulnerable and food insecure households are supported by a combination of the national and county governments and humanitarian agencies. Despite widespread flooding, no livestock disease outbreaks have been reported since October except in Marsabit, where FMD, CCPP, and PPR cases have resulted in a mortality rate of around six percent of small stock. Good rangeland resource availability and lower return trekking distances have helped to maintain good livestock body conditions, which has in turn supported healthy livestock births and conceptions, boosted milk production, and improved livestock value on the market. However, atypical pasture losses and associated migration is likely in localized areas of Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa, where insecurity will limit desert locust control operations. Pastoral area outcomes: Overall, significant gains in livestock productivity and value have driven an increase in livestock-related income and milk consumption to near-normal levels despite the slow pace of recovery of poor households’ livestock holdings. However, many poor households are still experiencing food gaps or engaging in crisis livelihoods coping strategies indicative of Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse. This would be the first time famine has been declared since 2017 in parts of South Sudan,” the statement said. Kenya and Somalia have had a long simmering territorial dispute. A return to a world where famines are commonplace would be “obscene in a world where there is more than enough food for everyone,” U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said. Due to the loss of household food and income sources, Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes persisted through December in many areas. English Situation Report on Kenya about Agriculture, Food and Nutrition and Drought; published on 30 Oct 2020 by FEWS NET By Paul Voosen Apr. Significantly below-average March to May long rains would result in the erosion of the gains brought about by the 2019 October to December short rains and lead to a worst-case scenario from desert locust damage. However, given the likelihood that RVF outbreaks will result in quarantines during the rainy season and suspend livestock sales, poor households in affected areas will be likely to periodically engage in stressed or crisis coping strategies to meet their minimum food needs. FEWS NET analyzes these assumptions in the context of current conditions and local livelihoods to arrive at a most likely scenario for the coming eight months. To project food security outcomes, FEWS NET develops a set of assumptions about likely events, their effects, and the probable responses of various actors. Agricultural labor demand is generally expected to be above normal from February through September as a result of increased area planted and heightened demand for weeding during above-average rainfall seasons, especially in high and medium potential areas. In 2020, countries in East Africa including Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia are facing a large outbreak of desert locusts contributing to the ongoing food crisis in the region. For 2020, Kenya is ranked 84 of 138 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review. The list of following conferences are including the following topics like business related conferences, engineering conferences, education, social. A forecast of above-average March to May rainfall is expected to consolidate recent gains in livestock production and lead to near-normal crop production, driving Minimal (IPC Phase 1) or Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes through September. Livestock prices have remained strong since December, attributed to good livestock body conditions and lower livestock supply during a period of restocking. After the 2018/19 drought, exceptionally above-average rainfall during Kenya’s 2019 short rains season disrupted livelihoods activities and slowed the pace of recovery in many areas, but food security conditions are now gradually improving. According to NDMA sentinel site data, more than 80 percent of households in the southeast reported an acceptable food consumption score (FCS). 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