HIGHLIGHTS
In 2017, more than 4.7 million people will need humanitarian assistance in Chad.
According to the SMART Nutrition Survey of November 2016, 10 regions have severe acute malnutrition (SAM) rates above the WHO emergency threshold (2%).
Chad loses about 9.5 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) each year, or more than 578 billion CFA francs because of undernutrition.
Over 4.7 million people will need humanitarian assistance in Chad in 2017
Multiple humanitarian crises
Low human development exacerbated by climatic and health risks associated with severe food insecurity and population displacement precipitate the majority of the Chadian population, about 8 million people, into acute or chronic vulnerability. According to the Humanitarian needs overview (HNO) of 2017, over 4.7 million1 people among whom 52% are women will need humanitarian assistance next year.
Regarding food security and nutrition, despite good prospects for the 2016/2017 crop year compared to the previous year, the analysis from the Harmonised Framework of November 2016 estimated that about 3.9 million people will be food insecure, including over one million severely food insecure during the next lean period (JuneAugust 2017). This represents an increase by 100,000 people compared to the 2016 lean period. Over two million people will be food insecure as of June in the eight regions of the Sahel belt (Batha, Kanem, Barh El Ghazal, Ouaddai, Sila, Wadi Fira, Guera and Hadjer Lamis), including about 702,000 people in severe food insecurity. These people will need emergency food assistance as well as support for agricultural production and livestock to help them get out of their vulnerable situation. In addition, nearly 500,000 people in displacement still need food assistance2 .
The nutritional situation remains worrisome, with almost 438,101 expected malnutrition cases in 2017 (a deterioration compared to 410,314 expected cases in 2016), including 237,8073 moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) cases and 200,294 cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) affecting children under five years old who will require urgent nutritional treatment. Given the correlation between food insecurity and malnutrition, food assistance should be combined with the treatment and prevention of malnutrition in children and pregnant and lactating women. To reduce the prevalence of acute malnutrition, an integrated nutrition - health - education - water, hygiene and sanitation response is needed.