An estimated 479,000 children are expected to suffer from Global Acute Malnutrition (severe and moderate) from May 2022 to April 2023 in Grand Sud and Grand Sud Est of Madagascar.

Most affected districts, as December 2022 approaches, will be Nosy Varika and Befotaka for the Grand Sud Est and Bekily and Ampanihy for the Grand Sud.

The Grand Sud Est has been affected by two intense cyclones this year and for the first time, the coastal Districts of the Grand Sud Est- with the exception of Vangaindrano- are classified in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 3 even in the midst of the harvest period.

Apart from the deterioration of food consumption, the poor nutrition situation is also explained by the increase in non-food expenditure, decline in purchasing power, rise in food prices, limitation of access to care, and an increase in diseases (diarrhea, malaria, measles epidemic for the District of Befotaka) and a drying up of water points.

The situation is likely to deteriorate during the lean season coinciding with the peak of malnutrition.