"It is projected that up to 1.5 million people or 5% of the population will face high levels of acute food insecurity" in 2024, highlights the report prepared by a network of 16 agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the European Union.

The data for 2023 are not directly comparable with those for 2022, due to a change in the methodology for Angola, the report highlights.

The increase in high levels of acute food insecurity in 2024 is estimated from the peak recorded in 2023 and "reflects the expectation of poor rainfall during the 2023/24 harvest season, low household food stocks and persistent food and fuel inflation", the report highlights.

The combined effects of consecutive years of dry weather conditions, including during the 2022/23 season, "have significantly reduced agricultural production, which is the main source of food for rural households in southwestern" Angola, where the provinces of Cunene, Huíla and Namibe were classified in Crisis (the third highest FAO level) in 2023.

If the areas of southeastern Angola recorded rainfall deficits during the last months of 2023, related to the El Niño event, in the rest of the country, the accumulated rainfall was above average.

In Luanda, abnormally heavy rains in December disrupted food availability in the capital's markets and in rural areas supplied from the capital.

"Dry weather conditions are expected for the 2023/24 agricultural season, with poor rains likely to lead to low agricultural production and worsen acute food insecurity levels in 2024", points out the 2023 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC).

The study highlights that the increase in food prices throughout 2023 was "partly attributed" to the depreciation of the kwanza between May and July 2023 and to the "removal of fuel subsidies, which contributed to increased production and distribution costs".

Annual food inflation in January 2023 was 11.5 percent and decreased marginally during the first months of the year to 9.3 percent in April. From May onwards, food prices increased steadily, reaching almost 22% in December, highlights the GRFC.

"Planned further cuts in fuel subsidies are expected to inflate fuel prices", concludes the report.

The poor availability and access to food due to the drought led to "inadequate and poor" food intake, especially during the lean season, points out the text from the 16 agencies, highlighting the "strong correlation" between acute food insecurity and undernutrition.

"An estimated 1.2 million people faced water scarcity as a result of the drought, exposing them to poor water, sanitation and hygiene conditions", adds the GRFC.

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