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WFP C.A.R. Crisis Regional Update Situation Report #32, 31 March 2017

Attachments

Highlights

  • WFP continues to face critical lack of funding in C.A.R. crisis countries. In C.A.R., humanitarian needs are still increasing. In Cameroon, WFP continues to distribute half-rations to all targeted C.A.R. refugees in eastern Cameroon. In Chad, WFP suspended food assistance to 66,800 returnees from January to March, to prioritize the use of limited resources during the lean season

Situation Update

  • In 2017, the funding situation is critical for C.A.R. crisis countries, with increasing needs versus lack or declining resources. To continue providing lifesaving assistance in the region, WFP refined its resource strategy and is increasing the efficiency of its operations to deliver more with fewer resources. The WFP strategy includes engaging in inter-agency emergency preparedness while prioritizing lifesaving measures and alignment to the C.A.R. crisis government priorities to strengthen host governments’ investments.

  • On 15 March, during a briefing session held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, for donors on the humanitarian situation in C.A.R., the Minister of Humanitarian, Social Affairs and National Reconciliation, and the Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for C.A.R. underscored that half of the C.A.R. population is in dire need of humanitarian assistance. They stressed that the upsurge in violence and the spread of hot spots since September 2016 up to the first quarter of 2017 triggered mass forced displacements and created new and urgent needs. During the meeting, the Humanitarian Coordinator raised concern about the protection of civilians and the systematic targeting of vulnerable communities.

  • In C.A.R., the February 2017 IPC shows that people living in eight prefectures out of 16 (Ouham, OuhamPendé, Bamingui-Bangoran, Vakaga, Haut-Mbomou, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto and Ouaka) are food insecure and need urgent assistance. Over 1.1 million are food insecure including over 794,000 in phase 3 and 316,000 severely food insecure (phase 4). Ouham is in phase 3 and 4 for more than three consecutive years while in the extreme north (Vakaga Prefecture) – a difficult-to-access area affected by the crisis from the beginning – the food situation has become critical with limited humanitarian assistance. The critical food insecurity has already affected the nutritional status of populations in the food-insecure areas and the deterioration is likely to continue in the coming months.

  • In Chad, WFP is one of the few partners that has maintained a presence in southern Chad but assistance has been drastically reduced since 2016 due to funding gaps. WFP, jointly with FAO and UNHCR, is advocating for additional funding to promote durable self-reliance of refugees and returnees and reduce their dependence on assistance.