Family that received clothes and food from the ICRC, Lower Juba region, Afmadow district – The level of food security in central and southern Somalia has deteriorated dramatically since June 2007 due to an inadequate rainy season. Because of the poor harvest, many farmers were unable to set aside seed for the planting season, which usually begins in October. When both food security and livelihoods are threatened, providing seed alone is not enough. Food must be included in the assistance package to prevent people from consuming the seed and enable them to bridge the gap until the next harvest.