Caritas staff representatives have carried out assessments of needs and some distributions of tools in Mbaiki, Bossangoa and Bangui in May and June. Credits: Caritas

The Central African Republic could face serious food shortages as a result of the instability before, during and after the 24 March coup by the Seleka rebel coalition.  

The crisis affects the country's entire population of 4.6 million and has left tens of thousands in need of emergency shelter, healthcare and food aid. There are 200,000 people internally displaced, while tens of thousands have fled as refugees to Cameroon, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Caritas Central African Republic and its diocesan partner Caritas Bangui initially provided hot meals to over 5000 people forced to flee as well as healthcare for the sick and those injured in the fighting.

Seed banks, food reserves and tools were looted or destroyed in the lawlessness. People forced from their homes and farms have lost their livelihoods. With the next planting season imminent (July-August), there is a small window of opportunity to provide farmers with seeds and tools in good time for them to be able to produce for the next harvest.

Caritas has been working to improve food security by replacing seeds and agricultural tools. Staff representatives have carried out assessments of needs and some distributions of tools in Mbaiki, Bossangoa and Bangui in May and June.

The UN food agencies, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), are also using the grassroots Caritas network to re-start and improve agricultural activities.

Even before this crisis, WFP estimated that 80,000 people would be at risk of severe food insecurity during the 2013 lean season. This number is now expected to increase. WFP also projects that 13,500 children under the age of five will become severely malnourished.

Caritas says that with time running out combined with a lack of funds, targeted farmers could miss their last chance for planting, leaving their families without the necessary food. Given the lack of funding for the Central African Republic from the international community, the whole county could be facing a food crisis by the beginning of 2014.

The Caritas Internationalis Emergency Appeal for over €700,000 has only raised a quarter of the necessary funds despite generous contributions from CRS, Cordaid (Netherlands), Caritas Japan, Caritas Korea, Caritas Spain, Caritas Italy and Caritas Belgium.

This means for example that of the 85 farmers groups who have been identified to be in need of aid by Caritas, only a handful will receive help.

For further information please contact  Valerie Kaye +39 06 6987 9757.