Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Food Insecurity, 01-26-2012
Beginning in 2011, decreased agricultural production across the Sahel and subsequent increased cereal prices resulted in high levels of food insecurity in localized areas of five of Mali’s eight regions, according to the Government of Mali (GoM) Food Security Commission. In December 2011, the USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) reported a decrease in Mali’s cereal production due to rainfall deficits. Cereal prices, which normally decline during the harvest season, saw almost no drop following the 2011 harvest. As of early December 2011, millet prices in all of Mali’s major cities had reached the highest recorded level in more than a decade. FEWS NET predicted that many household food stocks would be depleted by February 2012, forcing families to engage in negative coping strategies to purchase food, and estimated that approximately 1.7 million people would face significant food insecurity in Mali during 2012.
On January 26, 2012, U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard declared a disaster due to the effects of food insecurity in Mali. In FY 2011, USAID/OFDA supported programs to strengthen livelihoods and address acute malnutrition in Mali.
Additional Disaster Declaration:
Food Insecurity, 02-19-2010
Following two years of inadequate rains, severe drought conditions in Mali’s northern regions of Gao, Kidal, and Timbuktu resulted in significant food insecurity due to livestock deaths, loss of pasture, and water shortages, according to the U.S. Embassy in Bamako. The 2010 hunger season began in January and February, rather than March, in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of the three regions, FEWS NET reported, with Gourma District, Timbuktu Region, reporting loss of livestock as early as August 2009. According to FEWS NET, affected populations began resorting to negative coping mechanisms, such as selling livestock. FEWS NET predicted challenging conditions for pastoralists’ seasonal migrations due to poor pasture conditions and limited water resources. On February 5, 2010, the GoM requested international assistance. In response, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization provided emergency food assistance and animal feed to affected areas.
On February 19, 2010, U.S. Ambassador Gillian A. Milovanovic declared a disaster due to the high levels of food insecurity. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through USAID/Mali to WFP for the transport of emergency food assistance to benefit affected populations.
For information on additional USAID disaster responses in Mali, please see OFDA Annual Reports.
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