HIGHLIGHTS
WFP is bolstering its emergency response activities as the El Nino phenomenon looks set to have caused even worse harvest outcomes, affecting populations in the coming weeks and months. There are already an estimated 32 million food insecure people in the southern Africa region, largely as a result of drought which led to poor harvests last year.
WFP’s response across southern Africa has an estimated shortfall of USD 677 million (87%) from April 2016-March 2017, not considering new needs expected to emerge from forthcoming assessments which will determine the April harvest outcome. (Please see page 6 for a country-by-country breakdown of shortfall requirements.)
There is around a 50 percent chance of a La Niña episode developing from the second half of 2016, though any potential impact remains unclear at this stage. La Niña is characterized by increased rains and the possibility of flooding. Preparedness efforts ahead of a potential La Niña and longer-term resilience activities will also be necessary in a coordinated manner.