HIGHLIGHTS
Malnutrition screening and treatment efforts ongoing in drought-affected areas of Madagascar
Rainy and planting seasons commence in parts of the Southern Africa region
USAID/OFDA prioritizes agricultural interventions to increase access to seeds and other key inputs
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
The planting season, which extends through the end of December in some areas, has commenced in the Southern Africa region. Given the positive rainfall forecast for most of the sub-region by the Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF), farmers with timely access to inputs, such as seeds, have an opportunity to recover drought-disrupted livlihoods following the upcoming April/May harvest, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). FAO highlights that emergency activities in the agriculture sector, such as those supported by USAID/OFDA, will also contribute to a reduction in food consumption gaps and reliance on emergency food aid.
As of early November, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that La Niña conditions were present in the tropical Pacific Ocean. SARCOF forecasts indicate that weak La Niña conditions will persist until December, followed by a 55 percent chance of neutral conditions during the December-to-February period. According to SARCOF, La Niña in Southern Africa is generally associated with aboveaverage rainfall.
USAID/OFDA and USAID/FFP representatives traveled to southern Madagascar between October 31 and November 11 to assess humanitarian needs generated by ongoing El Niño-related drought conditions and monitor USAID humanitarian programs. In FY 2016, USAID provided more than $26 million to support UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) responding to drought-related needs in Madagascar