The relationship between food security and disaster risk reduction at the urban household level in the South African context

Abstract

South Africa is considered to be a food secure country at the aggregate level as the country produces enough staple foods and has the capacity to import food if needed, however large numbers of households within the country are food insecure. Food security implies that the vulnerability to food insecurity needs to be reduced by achieving an adequate level of food consumption and maintaining this level at a low risk over time. It is the purpose of the research study to investigate whether disaster risk reduction provides a useful framing for the food security issue in order to achieve an adequate level of food consumption and to maintain this level at a low risk over time for urban households in South Africa. In order to answer the research questions posed for the study and to provide a foundation for the research a review of literature was undertaken. The study considered the status and current developments of food security and disaster risk reduction on a global scale. The dynamics of food security in South Africa’s urban areas including the relationship between poverty and food security and challenges relevant to the South African context was then discussed in order to provide background information and gain insight into the existing status of urban food security in the South African context. The study furthermore discussed the usefulness of approaching food security/hunger in urban South Africa from a disaster risk reduction perspective by making use of examples in the South African context. The study found that South Africa is characterised by high levels of poverty and inequality which means that many households do not enjoy food security or adequate access to food. Urban food security is consequently highly dependent on money, but income poverty is not the only challenge to overcome and it is important that urban food security in South Africa be understood in connection with other developmental challenges such as rising food prices, urbanisation, the HIV/AIDS epidemic and climate change. Natural or human-induced hazards can destroy livelihoods, reduce food production and increase hunger, thus affecting all dimensions of food security and efforts to address these hazards are important, as the risk of disasters can pose serious threats to sustainable development. It was further established that there is a relationship between food security and disaster risk reduction at the urban household level in the South African context. Disaster risk reduction activities can be successfully implemented to assist in avoiding or limiting the risk of potential shocks impacting on those vulnerable to food insecurity.