Madagascar experiences a variety of natural hazards, including drought, flooding, recurrent locust infestations, and cyclones. Climatic shocks continue to worsen food and nutrition outcomes and drive displacement in Madagascar, particularly in the country's Grand Sud and Grand Sud Est areas. In these two areas, approximately 2.2 million people required emergency food assistance during the 2022-2023 lean season, when food is most scarce, and an estimated 479,000 children younger than five years of age were expected to face acute malnutrition risks from May 2022 through April 2023, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. Additionally, persistent drought in Grand Sud displaced more than 90,000 people between January 2019 and November 2022, the International Organization for Migration reports. In Madagascar, USAID focuses on addressing urgent humanitarian needs while investing in disaster risk reduction programs that strengthen the ability of communities to prepare for and mitigate the effects of disasters. USAID supports programs that promote food and nutrition security; bolster agricultural production; enhance access to safe drinking water and water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure; and protect at-risk populations.
