As a result of last December's torrential rains, Burundi's population has once again been plunged into an extremely precarious situation. The population, already vulnerable due to conflict, pandemics and erratic climate hazards, is on the brink of a food crisis. Support is urgently needed as in this context, the ongoing peace process risks being affected.

Households in a constant state of food insecurity

The excessive rainfall of the last two farming seasons has heavily affected Burundi's population, which is heavily dependent (90%) on agricultural production. As a result, the most vulnerable people have difficulty getting access to food and their diets are inadequate. Some sections of the population, which have already been in a very vulnerable situation, have resorted to extreme survival mechanisms. They have had to turn to secondary crops like sweet potatoes and potatoes to meet their immediate needs. However these are not yet matured and people's subsistence stocks are becoming depleted. Some households have had poor crop yields for two consecutive years. The first signs of a crisis are thus looming: prices are rising (for instance, the price of sweet potatoes has increased by 43% over the last three months / Source FAO) and children are dropping out of school.

Structural vulnerability

A number of factors are exacerbating household food security. These include an ongoing decrease in soil fertility as a result of a lack of fertilisers, root crop diseases and population growth, resulting in a decrease in the size of farming operations and the over-exploitation of soils. Moreover, subsistence farming has not been able to keep pace with population growth. Hence, the required calorie intake is insufficient and the quality of food is deteriorating. In view of this structural vulnerability, cyclical factors like epidemics or the current erratic weather conditions have a serious impact on the availability of food. Most people already have to survive on one meal per day. The situation is precarious and consistent and coordinated support is required.

Coordinated action in response to the emergency

A rapid response is needed to help provide access to food and care, whilst reviving local markets. Action Against Hunger, present in Burundi since 1994, is responding to the immediate needs of the vulnerable population in the provinces of Kayanza, Ngozi and Ruyigi. 547 severely malnourished children and 2,213 moderately malnourished children are currently being treated in Action Against Hunger's feeding centres. Programmes aimed towards supporting vulnerable people are also being set up.

The WFP and FAO have applied for funding to provide food and seeds, while the Government has set up a national campaign of solidarity and launched appeals for international support. Today, it is paramount to coordinate the provision of assistance to best meet the populations' needs. The consolidation of the peace process depends both on providing support to vulnerable populations and strengthening the government's capacities. A food crisis risks jeopardising the fragile peace process, at a time when agreements with the last warring faction are underway.

ENDS

Press Contacts:

Jenyfer Peridont, jperidont@actioncontrelafaim.org / 0033 (0)143 358222

Christine Kahmann, c.kahmann@aahuk.org / 0044 (0)20 8293 6197

Action Against Hunger is an international humanitarian organisation, working in 43 of the world's poorest countries. Its vocation is to save lives, especially those of malnourished children, and to work with vulnerable populations to preserve and restore their livelihoods with dignity.