The power of the word 'famine'

The Integrated Phase Classification is a measure of the severity of food shortages, drawn up by multiple organisations which include UN agencies and non-governmental aid organisations. "

An IPC analysis update conducted in Tigray and the neighbouring zones of Amhara and Afar concludes that over 350,000 people are in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) between May and June 2021," the report says."This severe crisis results from the cascading effects of conflict, including population displacements, movement restrictions, limited humanitarian access, loss of harvest and livelihood assets, and dysfunctional or non-existent markets," the analysis adds.

 It says that as of May, 5.5 million people were facing high levels of acute food insecurity in the region and the situation was likely to worsen through to September. 

 The IPC announcement falls short of declaring a famine in Tigray. That is because the "f-word" is such a powerful, compelling word that governments and international organisations have agreed it should only be used when certain strict criteria are met. For now, the IPC has settled on the use of the word "catastrophe" instead - with a warning that large parts of Tigray are at risk of famine in the coming months. Put simply, a "Phase 5 catastrophe" can refer to small groups of people, spread over large areas, whereas the word "famine" is only used when a big and distinct population group is experiencing conditions of starvation and death. And right now, in Tigray - in part because of insecurity and problems accessing those in most need - there is not yet the data to support a definition of famine. But many experts find this - often highly politicised - debate over definitions both petty and counter-productive, and individuals, like the UN's humanitarian chief, Mark Lowcock, have chosen to ignore the rules and insist that "there is famine now in Tigray".

 Analysis by Andrew Harding