Approximately 2 million people (33 percent of the analysed population) are facing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between September 2023 and March 2024, which coincides with the harvest period.

The prefectures of Mbomou, Haut-Mbomou, Nana-Mambéré and Ouham have the highest rates, with 50-60 percent of their populations experiencing high levels of food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 and above) over the current period. During this period, five sub-prefectures (Bambouti, Djéma, Obo and Zémio in Haut-Mbomou and Yalinga in Haute-Kotto) were classified as Emergency (IPC Phase 4), compared with 67 in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).

In the projection period of April to August 2024, the situation is expected to worsen, with around 2.5 million people (41 percent of the population) facing acute food insecurity, including nearly 521,000 people in Phase 4 (Emergency).

Displaced populations and those affected by armed groups are particularly vulnerable, as are those in landlocked areas with limited market access and poor households in urban areas with low purchasing power and rising food prices. Overall, the situation is expected to continue deteriorating.

Provide humanitarian assistance: Provide immediate and targeted food assistance to the most vulnerable populations, particularly the displaced, returnees and host families.

Provide livelihood support: Prioritize actions to strengthen livelihoods, access to productive assets (agricultural and livestock) and resilience of communities in the most affected sub-prefectures, so that they resist recurring shocks (safety, socio-economic, health, environmental, etc.).

Prevent and treat acute malnutrition: Continue interventions to prevent and treat acute malnutrition for children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Improve access to water, sanitation, and hygiene: Facilitate access to clean drinking water through the rehabilitation and development of boreholes in areas where the rate of access to drinking water remains low, while increasing awareness of hygiene and sanitation among households in remote areas.