Key Highlights
Out of the 10 districts analyzed, Sunamgonj and Bandarban have been classified in Level 4 or Severe Chronic Food Insecurity (CFI). The other 8 districts have been classified in moderate CFI (Level 3).
Of the total population in the 10 districts analyzed, 12 percent is in Level 4 and 18 percent in Level 3. The proportion of population in Level 3 is higher in south eastern Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) districts than in north eastern Haor districts.
Food access, utilization, sanitation, caring practices and more especially poverty are the major drivers of chronic food insecurity in the most affected districts.
Summary of Classification Conclusions
In Level 4 districts, Sunamganj and Bandarban, the severe chronic food insecurity is the result of the poor food consumption quantity, quality and high levels of chronic undernutrition.
In Level 3 districts, food consumption quality is worse than quantity and chronic undernutrition is a major concern. Nearly 70 percent of children and over 60 percent of women do not consume minimum diversified diets. Severe stunting rates vary between 11-20 percent with exception of Rangamati.
The major factors contributing to the severe and moderate chronic food insecurity situation are:
Low value livelihood strategies, which result in inadequate and often unpredictable income, combined with high dependency on single livelihood and low literacy rates, which result in high poverty (27%);
Lack of improved sanitation and lack of infrastructural facilities such as electricity, roads, growth centers (government approved market places).
Other factors that contribute to severe chronic food insecurity include:
Inadequate financial and social access to food, and
Climatic hazards such as excessive rainfall and pre-monsoon flash floods.