According to a new report released by FEWS, crisis-level food insecurity across West Africa has improved or stabilized in the past month, particularly from Mauritania to Chad and the eastern Sahel. Despite the improvement in food security, however, food aid will still be needed in the region through the fall to compensate for high prices and low household food stocks.
As the lean season comes to an end, the agricultural season in the region is progressing normally, with first harvests underway in several areas. Favorable rainfall throughout July means that a good harvest is expected. If this is the case, food security indicators are anticipated to normalize by October or November. Cereal prices may remain slightly higher than normal seasonal trends; however, there have been steady transfers from cereal-surplus to cereal-deficit areas throughout August.
The region continues to face the potential for locust infestation in the Sahel and renewed outbreaks of conflict in Mali. Such events could impact this food security outlook and necessitate further humanitarian assistance.