Over the period July to September 2008, the number of people highly and severely food insecure increased by about 50% compared to the previous quarter due to severe flooding in the East and Western Terai districts, roads obstruction because of incessant rainfall and landslides, rise in food prices and decreased production of maize and other local crops.
Over the period May – July 2008, the number of people highly and/or severely food insecure has increased due to poor winter harvests in parts of the Far- and Mid-west, rise in food prices and transportation costs, market closures due to syndicate strikes and inaccessibility of areas due to monsoon weather conditions.
The past couple of months werecharacterized by ongoing bandhs in the Terai, resulting in shortages of fuel and other essential items and rising food prices across Nepal. Price rises in coarse rice were further exacerbated by the ongoing ban on export of nonbasmati rice from India and the global cereal price hikes (see WFP Market Watch No. 3).