Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Food Insecurity, 03-02-12
A poor 2011/2012 harvest due to erratic rainfall and localized dry spells has resulted in food insecurity in Burkina Faso, particularly in Central-North, Central-South, East, North, and Sahel regions. Significant cereal price increases—as much as 220 percent above the five-year average in some areas—have exacerbated the deterioration of the food security situation. High demand for cereals from neighboring countries and unfavorable weather conditions for agricultural activities have limited food accessibility in the country. According to the Government of Burkina Faso (GoBF), up to 2.9 million Burkinabe, or nearly 20 percent of the country’s population, may require food assistance in 2012.
On March 2, 2012, U.S. Ambassador Thomas Dougherty declared a disaster due to the food insecurity. Staff from USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), including an economic recovery advisor, traveled to food-insecure areas of Burkina Faso to meet with humanitarian partners and assess emergency needs. As of May10, USAID/OFDA had provided more than $1.8 million in Fiscal Year 2012 to support nutrition interventions in affected areas. The current response builds upon ongoing USAID/OFDA-supported nutrition and agriculture programs that improve food security among vulnerable households.
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In Burkina Faso, a health worker administers a meningitis vaccine to a young boy. (Photo courtesy of UNICEF)
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For information on additional USAID disaster responses in Burkina Faso, please see OFDA Annual Reports.
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