Persistent drought, floods, and the combined impact of COVID-19 and the conflict in Ukraine on livelihoods are intensifying the food security crisis in Eswatini. Between October 2023 and March 2024, 282,800 people (24% of the assessed population) were expected to experience severe acute food insecurity – i.e., Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse levels – including 14,700 facing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels. The 14,700 represents almost a 15% increase from the previous IPC figures for the June–September 2023 period. Most of the people expected to be facing severe acute food insecurity between October 2023 and March 2024 live in Dry Middleveld, Lowveld Cattle And Maize, and Lubombo Plateau.
As a result of the current Russia-Ukraine conflict, input prices have risen far above the five-year average. The impact of COVID-19 has also increased the number of unemployed people in the country, significantly affecting livelihoods. As the purchasing power of more households decrease, they are likely to start depleting more of their assets as a coping strategy for the rising food insecurity and nutrition crisis, aggravating the situation during the October 2023 to March 2024 period.
Eswatini significantly depends on imports for food consumption. The main causes of this dependence include recurrent droughts; variable rainfall; lengthy dry spells; insufficient farming technology; low investment in seeds, fertilisers, and equipment; and structural impediments blocking access to formal markets.
(WFP accessed 07/02/2024, IPC 17/08/2023, [EC 07/09/2022]( Eswatini: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for June - September 2023 and Projection for October 2023 - March 2024 | Knowledge for policy (europa.eu)), IFPRI 09/03/2023)
Persistent drought, floods, and the combined impact of COVID-19 and the conflict in Ukraine on livelihoods are intensifying the food security crisis in Eswatini. Between October 2023 and March 2024, 282,800 people (24% of the assessed population) were expected to experience severe acute food insecurity – i.e., Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse levels – including 14,700 facing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels. The 14,700 represents almost a 15% increase from the previous IPC figures for the June–September 2023 period. Most of the people expected to be facing severe acute food insecurity between October 2023 and March 2024 live in Dry Middleveld, Lowveld Cattle And Maize, and Lubombo Plateau.
As a result of the current Russia-Ukraine conflict, input prices have risen far above the five-year average. The impact of COVID-19 has also increased the number of unemployed people in the country, significantly affecting livelihoods. As the purchasing power of more households decrease, they are likely to start depleting more of their assets as a coping strategy for the rising food insecurity and nutrition crisis, aggravating the situation during the October 2023 to March 2024 period.
Eswatini significantly depends on imports for food consumption. The main causes of this dependence include recurrent droughts; variable rainfall; lengthy dry spells; insufficient farming technology; low investment in seeds, fertilisers, and equipment; and structural impediments blocking access to formal markets.
(WFP accessed 07/02/2024, IPC 17/08/2023, [EC 07/09/2022]( Eswatini: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for June - September 2023 and Projection for October 2023 - March 2024 | Knowledge for policy (europa.eu)), IFPRI 09/03/2023)
