Food prices increased by 16 per cent in Fiji in the wake of tropical cyclones Yasa and Ana.
And food insecurity increased especially for female-headed households and homes with children ages four and younger.
This, according to World Food Program vulnerability analysis and mapping officer Andre Martinez.
The issue was discussed during a recent webinar on Pacific regional food security assessments, projects and their local outcomes.
While discussing the findings from the mobile vulnerability analysis and mapping initiative (mVAM), Mr Martinez said food prices were the major concern for households in Fiji.
“Before TC Yasa and Ana, food prices really shot up to the concern of families so there’s something there about markets which needs to be uncovered,” he said.
“Food prices remained a major concern after the cyclones as they increased from 43 per cent to 59 per cent.”
He said the findings showed that food insecurity also increased.
“Food insecurity increased for all households but was more pronounced for female-headed households and households with children aged four and younger.”
Mr Martinez said crisis coping strategies increased by 9 per cent.
“Even more worrying stuff is that crisis level of coping strategies increased from 12 per cent to 21 per cent.
“So more households are relying on very high level of asset depletion which will impact their ability to come back from these impacts in the long-term.
“We have seen that remittances have increased but also reduction or no income also increased not equally, it actually impacted households with women and households with children at higher rates.”
The webinar was hosted by the Pacific Resilience Partnership.
