Between September and December 2024, around 1.63 million people, or 15 percent of the population analysed faced high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), requiring an urgent humanitarian response. Of these, 1.58 million people were in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and 48,000 in Emergency (IPC Phase 4). The most affected districts were Androy and Atsimo Andrefana in the Grand Sud, and Befotaka and Farafangana in the Grand Sud-Est. 

For the first projected period (January to April 2025), food insecurity is expected to worsen, with 1.94 million people (18 percent of the population analysed) expected to experience high levels of acute food insecurity (Phase 3 or above). Although humanitarian aid is expected to stabilise people's food situation, the food insecurity situation has deteriorated compared with the current period. Climatic impacts, particularly low rainfall and cyclones/floods in certain regions, combined with the lean season, have increased household vulnerability.

During the second projected period (May to August 2025), an overall improvement in the food situation is expected, although pockets of vulnerability will remain. The number of people suffering from high levels of acute food insecurity is expected to decrease to around 1.12 million, or 11 percent of the population.

• Strengthen unconditional food assistance: Target poor and very poor households in districts experiencing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) to mitigate consumption gaps, especially during the lean season.
• Pre-position food stocks: Establish food reserves in cyclone and flood-prone areas, especially difficult to access areas during the rainy season.
• Support the distribution of short-cycle, resistant seeds: Provide seeds adapted to climate change, along with appropriate cultivation techniques, to ensure a smooth agricultural season, especially between October and December 2024.
• Provide food assistance in the form of cash transfers: recommended to avoid the consumption of seeds by households.
• Support the start of the agricultural off-season: From March 2025, rapidly provide agricultural inputs (quality seeds, small equipment) and technical support adapted to climate change for certain crops.
• Intensify the fight against the risk of locust invasion: Implement measures to control locusts in the Grand Sud region to protect crops and livelihoods.
• Set up screening and treatment campaigns for acute malnutrition: Target children in the worst affected areas most affected and ensure the management of cases in districts in crisis (IPC Phase 3).
• Strength coordination units: Improve the coordination of emergency and development interventions for greater effectiveness.
• Improve monitoring and warning systems: Put in place robust mechanisms to assess food insecurity and rapidly adjust interventions accordingly.
• Deploy mobile health and nutrition strategies: In isolated areas, improve access to essential services by including community screening via the brachial perimeter (family MUAC).
• Ensure the immediate availability of medical and nutritional inputs: Ensure that health facilities have the necessary resources to treat illnesses that exacerbate food insecurity, such as diarrhoea, ARI (Acute Respiratory Infection) and malaria.
• Guarantee access to drinking water: Prioritise health centres and communities in Phase 3 and above, by mobilising local communities to deliver resources to hard-to-reach areas.
• Strengthen the capacity of local players: Train those involved in the management of malnutrition and the distribution of inputs for a rapid and appropriate response.