Highlights
As the food crisis reaches peak intensity, WFP requires funds urgently to scale-up necessary food assistance.
WFP and its partners have successfully increased the number of people reached with food assistance in recent months, resources have not been sufficient to provide full food rations for all activities.
Should additional funds become available immediately, WFP has preparedness measures in place to move food commodities promptly to assist vulnerable populations before food insecurity deteriorates further.
Situation Update
The crisis’ January-March peak is approaching rapidly. For most rural households, food stocks from the 2016 harvest have been largely exhausted.
The retail price of maize remains high and above its five-year average levels for the time of year.
The growing season has been off to an irregular start, with delays extending across Mozambique,
Zimbabwe and Zambia. On the positive, major cereal producing regions of South Africa together with Botswana, Namibia and southern Angola have enjoyed a promising start.More than 780,000 children currently require treatment for moderate acute malnutrition and 513,000 for severe acute malnutrition.
Among food insecure populations, people living with by HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) are particularly at risk of nutritional deterioration. Securing food and nutritional assistance is vital to support good health, avoid negative coping strategies and breaking of adherence to treatment regimes.