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REGIONAL: FOOD SECURITY

KEY FIGURES

247.8 million PEOPLE AFFECTED BY MODERATE-TO-SEVERE FOOD INSECURITY IN THE REGION

The 2023 Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition report by FAO, IFAD, PAHO/WHO, UNICEF, and WFP reveals progress in combating hunger and food insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean, especially in South America, despite indications that 247.8 million people are affected by moderate-to-severe food insecurity across the whole region. While South America saw a decline in hunger and food insecurity between 2021 and 2022, hunger rates in Mesoamerica (Mexico and Central America) remained unchanged, and the Caribbean experienced an increase. Overall, 6.5 per cent of the region's population (43.2 million people) faced hunger in 2022.

Moderate or severe food insecurity affected 37.5 per cent of the population, higher than the global average of 29.6 per cent. This marked a decrease from the previous year, with 247.8 million people affected, including 159 million in South America, 61.9 million in Mesoamerica, and 26.9 million in the Caribbean. Severe food insecurity affected 12.6 per cent of the population (83.4 million people) in the region. In South America, the prevalence was 12.7 per cent (55.4 million people), in Mesoamerica it was 8.6 percent (15.4 million), and in the Caribbean 28.2 per cent (12.5 million). Persistent inequalities and climate patterns, particularly affecting women and rural communities, continue to challenge food security. The gender gap in food insecurity slightly narrowed but remained at 9.1 percentage points, while rural areas experienced 8.3 percentage points higher food insecurity than urban areas. In Central America and Haiti, erratic rainfall due to El Nio conditions has led to increasing agricultural production costs and a reduction in crop yields. According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), crisis levels (IPC Stage 3) of acute food insecurity are expected to spread between February and May 2024 as poor households face depleting stocks from below-average harvests and limited purchasing power as food prices increase.

SOUTH AMERICA: HEAVY RAINFALL

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2.8 million PEOPLE COULD BE AFFECTED BY EL NIO-INDUCED WEATHER IN PERU

Bolivia and Peru issued warnings as both countries face heavy rainfall. On 27 November, heavy rain and strong wind hit the Huancayo Province in Junn Department, central Peru, resulting in displacement and damage. According to Peru's National Institute of Civil Defence (INDECI), the rainfall has affected 451 people, displaced 58 people and destroyed or damaged at least 215 houses. Perus National Hydrology and Meteorology Service warns that between 2-5 December intense rains are set to continue in 17 regions across the country, particularly mountain and jungle areas. More than 2.8 million people could be affected by El Nio-induced rains and landslides across Peru, according to INDECI estimates.

In Bolivia, heavy rains are forecast to hit the country this week following an intense season of wildfires in the La Paz, Beni, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba departments, which destroyed an estimated 3.4 million hectares of forests and pastures and killed 13 people according to official Government data. A report from the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service triggered official alarms as rivers are expected to overflow. An orange alert was issued on 29 November for rains and thunderstorms in La Paz and will remain in effect until 7 December.

REGIONAL: POVERTY

KEY FIGURES

29% OF THE REGIONS POPULATION LIVING IN POVERTY

According to the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 2023 report, poverty in Latin America returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2022. Some 181 million people (nearly one third of the regions population) live in poverty, slightly less than before COVID-19, while extreme poverty affects 11.2 per cent of the population (70 million people), similar to 2019 levels. Moreover, ECLAC warns of a 1.7 per cent GDP growth rate forecast for 2023, which is significantly lower than the 3.8 per cent seen in 2022 and could even slow to 1.5 per cent in 2024 potentially stalling further poverty reduction.

Poverty affects children, adolescents, women, indigenous people, and rural residents in higher rates. Income inequality remains high despite falling in 2022 to levels below those recorded in 2019. The richest decile earns 21 times more than the poorest, ECLAC highlights. Last year the 105 wealthiest individuals alone held wealth equal to nearly 9 per cent of the regional GDP. Gender disparities persist in the labour market as well, with a 22.6 percentage point gap in participation rates between men and women, and higher unemployment rates for women.

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Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (As of 4 December 2023) - World - ReliefWeb