The negative consequences of the global cost-of-living crisis are manifesting in the Kyrgyz Republic with rising food prices and inflation, which paired with decreasing net remittances erode the resilience of households most vulnerable to food and nutrition insecurity. The COVID-19 pandemic had reverted a decade of development gains in just two years. Poverty had sky-rocketed from 20.1 % in 2019 to 33.3 % in 20211 , with an additional 10 % of the population at risk of falling into poverty. Moreover, extreme poverty increased to 6 percent in 2021 from 0.5 % in 2019.
WFP has rolled out quarterly remote surveys to monitor the changes in the food security situation and underlying factors across the country. According to the June survey, 10% of households, or 674,732 people, were acutely food insecure. Despite the positive dynamics, the food security situation remains unstable as inflation is forecasted to remain high. The food inflation in June 2023 was 12.4 %, compared to 16 percent in June 20222 , the second highest in the Eurasian region. The prices for key commodities remain high compared to past years.
For both food and non-food items, the key hindering factor to their purchase was the economic accessibility (lack of money) and affordability (high food prices).
Eight percent of households reported that their income had decreased since January 2023, with an average decrease of 33 %. The highest prevalence is among households living in Chui (11 %), Talas (11 %), Issyk-Kul (10 %) provinces and Bishkek city (10 %).
Food insecurity is unequally affecting different areas across the country. Rural areas remain more vulnerable to food insecurity (11 %) compared to urban areas (7 %). The highest share of food insecure population is concentrated in Talas, Osh and Naryn provinces, with higher prevalence among female-headed households.
Around seven in ten (7/10) households are relying on coping strategies to meet their food and other essential needs. Similar to the previous issue (March 2023), a significant proportion of households employ livelihood-based coping strategies (71 %). However, the number of households engaging in emergency and crisis coping strategies decreased (to 38 %, and 43 % respectively), except for stress coping strategies (35 %). This slight decrease may indicate a positive change in food security in line with the agricultural season. Some of these coping strategies economically/nutritionally unsustainable and their application high for rural residents (77 %) compared to urban areas (62 %) calls for further investment in food systems transformation and nutrition education.
Nearly half of the population (44 %) continued to use negative food coping strategies such as eating less desirable/less expensive foods (37 %) and 5 % skipped meals or ate less than usual.
Source: Relief Web