Conflict-induced household-level food insecurity in conflict-affected areas of Northeastern Ethiopia

Dawit Bezabih; Mehretie Belay; Simachew Bantigegn

doi:10.29219/fnr.v69.11736

Dawit Bezabih Bairdar University, Bahirdar Ethiopia
Mehretie Belay Bahir Dar University
Simachew Bantigegn Bahir Dar University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v69.11736

Keywords: Conflict, food insecurity, FCS, HFIAS, Livelihood zone, food consumption score, Ethiopia, households

Abstract

Conflict-induced food insecurity has been currently emerging to be a widespread challenge to the decent livelihood of the human population. This study examined conflict-induced food insecurity in conflict-affected areas of the northeastern part of Ethiopia. This study assessed three time periods (pre-conflict, conflict, and post-conflict times) to analyze the impact of conflict on the studied households. Food consumption score and household food insecurity access scale tools were used to measure the food security status of households. Descriptive statistics and independent t-test were used to analyze the data. The major finding confirmed that the food security status of both urban and rural households in the study areas was negatively affected by the conflict. Compared to the pre-conflict period (22.2%), the number of food-insecure households at the time of the conflict was three times higher. Though the food security status of both rural and urban households was affected by the conflict in the area, the effect was much severe for the rural households. The number of food-insecure rural households during the conflict was three times higher than the pre-conflict period. During the conflict, female-headed households (78.3%) were more vulnerable to food insecurity than male-headed households. The independent t-test result confirmed the presence of a difference in food security status between rural and urban households (P > 0.01) and between female- and male-headed households (P > 0.021). Food security status variations were also seen among the study livelihood zones. Households from the north wello east plain livelihood zone suffered a lot (71.3%). The result suggested that any project aiming at improving households’ food security in conflict-affected areas should give attention to the provision of food aid, agricultural inputs, credit services, and financial support to the affected community. Restoring peace would rather be the long-lasting solution to minimize the conflict-induced food insecurity in the area.

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