disaster
Ethiopia Food Security Outlook: Peak lean season emerges as El Niño stalls kiremt rains, risking seasonal recovery, June 2026 - January 2027
By Famine Early Warning System Network ReliefWeb
· July 13, 2026
· 6 min read
. Key Messages From June to September as the 2026 lean season peaks, widespread Crisis (IPC Phase 3) in northern, central, and southern areas is most likely due to high food prices, limited income-earning opportunities, and high market reliance. Concurrently, the belg harvest is improving food acces
Key takeaway Starting in October, despite the likely below-average meher harvest, the food that becomes available is expected to improve food access to support improvement to Stressed (IPC Phase 2).
Why this matters
The emerging peak lean season in Ethiopia poses significant challenges to food security, particularly in northern, central, and southern areas where widespread Crisis levels are expected. The stalled kiremt rains due to El Niño will likely exacerbate the situation, affecting meher production and limiting recovery. The impact of below-average rainfall on pasture regeneration, water availability, and livestock productivity will be particularly severe in the southeastern parts of the country. Faith-based organizations and humanitarian relief groups will need to closely monitor the situation and adjust their response strategies accordingly. The anticipated El Niño-related flooding risks during the deyr/hageya rains will also require careful planning to mitigate the potential threats to crops and livestock health. As the situation unfolds, it will be crucial to track the effectiveness of relief efforts and the resilience of affected communities, particularly in conflict-affected areas where access to food and other essential resources is already limited.
About this story
Original reporting by ReliefWeb . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: disaster Published: July 13, 2026 Source: ReliefWeb Reading time: 6 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? . Key Messages From June to September as the 2026 lean season peaks, widespread Crisis (IPC Phase 3) in northern, central, and southern areas is most likely due to high food prices, limited income-earning opportunities, and high market reliance. Concurrently, the belg harvest is improving food acces
When was this published? This article was first published on July 13, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Famine Early Warning System Network at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more disaster coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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