Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
- In 2023, despite ongoing clashes between armed forces and nonstate armed groups compounded by frequent natural disasters, there have been signs of some improvement in the general humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR);
- The 2024 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) estimates 2.8 million people, or 46 percent of the CAR population, will be in need of humanitarian assistance and protection;
- UNICEF-supported health facilities have provided medical care to 38,122 children under the age of five, while also treating 55,979 children aged between 0 and 59 months with severe acute malnutrition (SAM);
- UNICEF and its partners provided access to safe water for 99,838 people;
- More than 111,000 children gained access to education and almost 40,000 children and adolescents gained access to community-based mental health and psychosocial support activities;
- In response to displacements trigged by conflict and natural disasters, the Rapid Response Mechanism provided assistance to 245,794 people, of which 102,807 people with WASH assistance, 135,113 with essential household items, and 7,874 people through cash transfers.
SITUATION OVERVIEW AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
The humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) has shown some signs of improvement, notably with a significant 20 percent decrease in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from 2022 to 2023. As of December 31, 2023, the CAR had an estimated 511,803 IDPs, indicating a gradual stabilization in certain areas.
However, the context remains highly volatile, characterized by clashes between armed forces and non-state armed groups, further exacerbated by frequent natural disasters. Throughout the year, the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) recorded 125 alerts affecting 276,688 individuals, a similar trend from the previous year, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of the population to both conflict and environmental challenges. Approximately 65 percent of these alerts were related to violence, around 21 percent to natural disasters, and 12 percent linked to the return of displaced persons.
In April 2023, the CAR experienced a major crisis with the influx of refugees, asylum seekers and repatriates fleeing conflicts in neighboring countries. Specifically, 25,836 people fled the conflict in Sudan, and 31,779 fled from Chad, exacerbating vulnerabilities in already weakened regions.
The Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) 2024, consolidated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), has highlighted the persistent and multifaceted challenges confronting the CAR. It estimates that in 2024, approximately 2.8 million people, or 46 percent of the CAR's population, will require humanitarian assistance and protection. While this figure represents an 18 percent decrease from 2023, it still underscores significant needs across the country, emphasizing the critical importance of timely and responsive humanitarian intervention.