Local community assessment of the impact of the early warning system on food security in the Red Sea State

Abstract EN

This study assessed the impact of the early warning system on food security at the (RSS) with emphasis on the welfare of the vulnerable groups in Red Sea State.

Primary data collection involved both quantitative and qualitative data generated from different localities of RSS which represented its agro ecological zones.Samples of households were taken from villages in Rural Port Sudan, Tokar and Halaib Localities.

The questionnaire was designed to collect information on basic household demographic information, questions about early warning system.The questionnaire was administered to assess households practice and resilience for food crisis and perception of early warning.

Secondary data was based on review of books, articles, evaluations and assessment, reports and internet.

Based on community interview the food security impact was limited they felt that measures taken by government, donating institutions and other partners did not alleviate the food crisis situation.

The local community was aware of certain indicators of food insecurity reflected in rain fall, livestock, goats, fish and fodder prices.

This may let the local community to be prepared and to take precautionary measures against food crisis.

Local community believed that sakanab was the most important local traditional method for communication within (RSS) rural communities.

The community is aware of complexity of food security indicators such as lack of rain, poor production, grain and fodder availability and terms of trade.

Coping mechanisms for food security seem to be complex as the community picks various preparedness mechanisms, among the most relevant preparedness selling of animals to buy food, reduction of numbers of meals and borrowing food from relative and friend seems to be obvious choices by the community during food crisis.

Community actions to reduce the negative effect of food crisis has impacted positively in reducing food crisis effect in the community to somehow, this means that the local community was aware and able to took certain precautionary measures and support the poor within the community.