Central African Republic: Persistent acute food insecurity and malnutrition caused by insecurity

: © OCHA

Snapshot of the situation

Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the poorest countries in the world, hostage to a prolonged humanitarian crisis. Nearly half of the people experience high acute food insecurity, with thousands of children and women severely malnourished, due to several factors, such as the socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. CAR also suffers recurrent natural disasters, including drought and floods.
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Acute Food Insecurity Report

During an IPC Acute Food Insecurity (AFI) analysis of Central African Republic conducted in September 2021, 67 of the country’s 71 sub-prefectures were analysed as well as the city of Bangui. For the period of September 2021 to March 2022, nine sub-prefectures were classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and 59 in Crisis (IPC Phase 3). Of the 4.9 million people living in the sub-prefectures analysed, 2.1 million (43%) will experience high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase or above) through March 2022, including around 620,000 people in Emergency (IPC Phase 4).
For the projection period (April to August 2022), 20 sub-prefectures have been classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and 40 in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). Of the 4.9 million people living in the sub-prefectures analysed, nearly 2.36 million people (48%) will likely experience high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) through August 2022, including around 689,000 people in Emergency (IPC Phase 4).
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Acute Malnutrition Report

An IPC Acute Malnutrition (AMN) analysis of 68 sub-prefectures and Bangui, conducted at the same time as the AFI one, revealed that between September 2021 and August 2022, nearly 214,000 children under the age of five and more than 98,000 pregnant or lactating women will likely suffer from acute malnutrition. Among these, nearly 67,000 children are likely severely malnourished and require urgent care. Through February 2022, 31 sub-prefectures and Bangui are classified as being in a Serious nutritional situation (IPC Phase 3), with the remaining sub-prefectures being in an Alert nutritional situation (IPC Phase 2. Between March and August 2022, six sub-prefectures will likely move from being in a Serious to a Critical nutritional situation (IPC Phase 4), while 21 sub-prefectures will likely move from an Alert to a Serious situation. 25 sub-prefectures and Bangui will remain in a Serious situation.
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Actions Needed

Provide humanitarian assistance and protection programmes: Provide immediate humanitarian food assistance to support populations in IPC Phase 3 or above, including displaced people, returnees and host families, and people with special needs. Programs will have to take into account the essential needs of children and pregnant or lactating women.
Provide livelihood support: Implement urgent actions to facilitate access to food and protect or strengthen household livelihoods through the distribution of agricultural and livestock inputs and the creation of community assets.
Increase access to safe water and adequate sanitation: Improve food utilisation and its impact on nutrition by facilitating people’s access to safe water sources through the rehabilitation and development of boreholes in areas where access to safe water remains low, while intensifying hygiene and sanitation awareness and services, especially among households in hard-to-reach areas.
Improve acute malnutrition services: Strengthen the coverage and quality of management of acute malnutrition and revitalise the health and nutrition system to improve the quality and coverage of primary care services.