WORLD BANK
March 2012
Sahel Drought Situation Report No. 4
Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, Mali, Niger
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AT A GLANCE
 National early warning systems and
international organizations are reporting that
between 13 and 15 million people are at risk
of food insecurity in West Africa’s Sahel
region due to a combination of drought, poor
accessibility of food and displacement due to
conflict. This includes 5.4 million in Niger, 3.6
million in Chad, 3.0 million in Mali, 1.7 million
in Burkina Faso and 850,000 in Senegal.
 Acute food insecurity will reach Integrated
Food Security (IPC) Phase 3 - Crisis level (1 is
no crisis and 5 is catastrophe/famine)
between now and August 2012 in the agropastoral areas of Mauritania, Mali, Niger,
and Chad according to FEWS NET. One
million children are at risk for severe malnutrition. The IPC Phase is not expected to surpass the crisis
stage.
 Emergency plans have already been put into place by governments - Mauritania $157 million, Mali $210
million and Niger $70 million plus a $229 Consolidated Appeal Process (Niger/Chad) – However, these
plans will not entirely cover household consumption needs.
 The crisis is further compounded by sharp declines in cereal production and high grain prices, lack of
food for livestock and a reduction in remittances from migrant workers in other countries.
LATEST SITUATION
 The UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has stated that 2011 cereal production in the Sahel
was, on average, 25 percent lower than in 2010, but as much as 50 percent lower in Chad and
Mauritania. The rise in internally displaced people in the region, including thousands fleeing conflict in
northern Mali, has also aggravated the crisis.
 FAO appealed for an extra $69.8 million (53.2 million euros) to aid 790,000 vulnerable households.
 Oxfam has also publicly called for urgent action to stop the drought in the Sahel region from turning into
a humanitarian disaster. Oxfam said that malnutrition rates across Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania,
Niger and northern Senegal are hovering between 10% and 15%, and in some areas, have risen beyond
the emergency threshold level of 15%.
 In Nigeria, 10,000 Niger nationals, mostly migrant workers, have fled back north across the border
fearing the bomb attacks from the Boko Haram Islamic set.
 In Mali, heavily-armed Tuaregs who fought in Gaddafi's army have returned home and joined a rebellion
seeking a new Tuareg nation in the northern half of the country. Rebel advances have forced an
estimated 195,000 from their homes, with most escaping to refugee camps in Niger and other neighbors
such as Burkina Faso and Mauritania.
 In Niger, 228,000 migrant workers from Libya have returned which is causing an extra strain on food
security in a country already dealing with shortfalls.
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The UN Centralized Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) has released an additional $US6 million to help Mali
deal with the crisis bringing the total from CERF to the Sahel to US$ 23million.
COUNTRY SITUATION
Burkina Faso:
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FEWSNET reports 80 percent of the country is currently able to adapt the current conditions and cover
their essential needs however, the remaining 20 percent are experiencing stressed levels of food
security.
Between July and September 2012, it is anticipated the areas in stress will reach IPC Phase 3 (crisis
stage) where 1.67 million people will be vulnerable.
The crisis areas will be in the north of the country where cereal shortages are widely reported
(preliminary estimates by the joint Government/CILSS1/FAO/FEWSNET/WFP harvest assessment
mission, grain production is 13 percent below last year and close to the five-year average. Grain prices
increased by 33% compared to last year. )
The Government is currently organizing more than 60,000 tons of grain from surplus areas and
subsidizing the price in the stressed areas. It is also purchasing additional grain to add to the national
security stock.
Chad:
 The Government estimates a significant
cereals deficit this year which has caused
a 20-43 percent increase in local prices.
2.2 million people are currently at risk of
food insecurity.
 The poorest households of the country in
the drought affected areas (central and
southern regions) are currently in a food
security stressed phase which will
continue until June 2012 From July to
September 2012 they are expected to
reach the crisis phase.
Mali:
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Fighting has intensified in northern Mali between Government forces and the armed rebel groups
(Tuaregs and the National Liberation Movement for the Liberation of Azawad). UN agencies state that
more than 93,000 people have been displaced internally.
86,000 people have fled the country altogether into neighboring Burkina Faso, Algeria, Mauritania and
Niger.
3.5 million Malians are said to be at risk of food insecurity due to the combination of drought conditions,
internal displacement and local food shortages.
The Government’s National Cereals Marketing Agency, (OPAM) is currently positioning and purchasing
relief supplies.
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Peter Barlerin declared a disaster due to the displacement.
Permanent Inter- States Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel
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Mauritania:
 The National Food Security Commission and WFP have stated that around 600,000 people are currently
food insecure in the country and in need of assistance.
 Malnutrition rates for the country are consistent with previous years but are expected to worsen as
drought conditions become more severe. Low coping capacity is resulting in worsening livelihood
protection deficits.
 FEWSNET is reporting that technically appropriate and well targeted food assistance is necessary
between February and September 2012 to help poorer households which rely on rain-fed agriculture
activities.
Niger:
 The seasonal increase in prices beginning in April is likely to cause food security difficulties for
households vulnerable to food insecurity. Areas most affected will be the agro-pastoral areas in the
West and the Tessaoua regions in the South.
 Currently, Government is reporting that poor households are able to access food although their
situation is expected to worsen starting in April.
World Bank Response
The World Bank endeavors to take early action in ensuring institutional preparedness to address short term food
security needs and long term drought resilience measures in the Sahel region. The approach keeps a regional
perspective and builds on already existing response mechanisms and operations.
To assist with monitoring of the evolving drought situation the World Bank participates in the regional Security
and Nutrition Working Group platform in Dakar and follows up on response and coordination efforts that are
being undertaken.
Burkina Faso:
 National capacities to address drought risk will be strengthened through the Global Facility for Disaster
Reduction and recovery (GFDRR) financed national DRM Program.
Mali:
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National capacities to address drought risk will be strengthened through the GFDRR financed national
DRM Program. A partnership is recommended to be explored with CILSS for the strengthening of the
early warning system.
Niger:
 The World Bank is launching Niger Community Action Project for Climate Resilience, in the amount of
$63 million, including a $35 million grant and a $28 million concessional loan, with the objective to
improve the resilience of the populations and of production systems to climate change and variability, in
order to increase food security in the project area. The $70 million Safety Net Project launched in May
2011 is also a well-adapted tool to respond to the situation.
Disaster Risk Management Team Contact:
Doekle Wielinga, AFR DRM Coordinator, AFTWR, WB Washington DC, AfricaDRM@worldbank.org
Sources: OCHA, WFP, ECHO, FEWS-Net, press releases from various media sources, WB Staff
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