FAO seeks $940m to meet needs of food-insecure populations in more than 30 countries

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, FAO aims to help 1.8 million crisis-hit populations restore their livelihoods and enhance food production. (Source: Food and Agriculture Organisation)

FAO's response will help to address the root causes of increased food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly of the most vulnerable populations. The planned activities include providing agricultural inputs such as seeds, tools, fertilisers and other inputs for crop farming, livestock restocking, providing animal feed and veterinary care as well training in farming best practices, new approaches to food production, and livelihood diversification strategies. Humanitarian assistance with resilience longer-term projects also entails land and water management and conservation, improving agricultural productivity of smallholder farmers and supporting poor families with cash assistance.

Continuing agricultural livelihoods support to withstand shocks

Climate-related shocks, conflict, natural disasters, and outbreaks of plant pests or animal diseases continue to pose major challenges to poor farmers across the globe, disrupting their livelihoods, reducing access to income-generating opportunities, and forcing them to abandon their homes - while also putting pressure on limited resources.

In addition, prolonged drought conditions in recent years in various regions have resulted in consecutive poor harvests in countries already facing high levels of food insecurity and malnutrition.

Such challenges will remain a primary concern in 2019. Possible El Niño conditions climate phenomenon developing in the beginning of the year may compound the situation. El Niño hazards - usually associated with heavy rains, floods and drought -aggravate both global food insecurity and the coping capacities of vulnerable populations.

"Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the majority of crisis‑affected populations," said Dominique Burgeon, director of FAO's Emergency and Resilience Division. "Therefore, it is crucial to invest in agriculture and food systems support from the onset of a crisis to save lives and enable families trapped by fighting or living in remote areas to rapidly resume local food production and earn an income. With resource partners' support, we hope to help restore livelihoods of millions of people, reduce their dependence on external food aid and build their resilience to withstand shocks."

A range of assistance, tailored to needs

FAO's emergency response in 2019 will focus on assisting highly food-insecure communities in more than 30 countries.

This includes Yemen - the world's largest humanitarian crisis - where FAO aims to reach 8.6 million people with high impact interventions combining cash and agricultural livelihoods support. In Syria, 3.5 million people will benefit from restoring agricultural livelihoods and value chains.

In Somalia, the organisation intends to assist 3.1 million people facing acute hunger with emergency livelihoods support. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, FAO aims to help 1.8 million crisis-hit populations restore their livelihoods and enhance food production.

Support will range from efforts to boost local food production and improve household nutrition, campaigns to help livestock-dependent families keep their herds healthy and alive, and natural resource and land management projects to mitigate risks of floods or erosion and build community resilience in the face of climate impacts.

A major thrust will involve cash assistance that put money into the pockets of the most vulnerable people, so they can afford to feed their families while they work to resume household food production in the aftermath of crises.

To see the full list of countries that FAO is targeting for assistance and to find out more about the organisation's planned humanitarian interventions in 2019, click here.