The prevalence of the HIV/AIDS virus in Mozambique is a further point of vulnerability for poor rural households, aggravating poverty and malnutrition levels.
With more than 70 percent of its population dependent on agriculture for livelihood, Mozambique’s food security can be extremely volatile.
For example, in February 2007, Cyclone Flávio caused widespread damage in Inhambane, Sofala and Manica provinces.
Poor households have few assets to sell and their consumption is already low, so in times of scarcity they do not have much to buffer them from food insecurity.
Donor-funded projects related to the National Early Warning System help the government cope with food insecurity.