February 2014 - Since December 2012, all 4.6 million people living in the Central African Republic (CAR) have been affected by ongoing conflict and insecurity. Over the past year, fighting between armed groups and increasing vigilante violence have taken an immense toll on civilians and escalated humanitarian needs. Agricultural production has been disrupted and essential basic services, such as schools and medical facilities, have been shut down or destroyed in the fighting. There are widespread and increasing reports of looting, extortion, arbitrary arrests, torture, summary executions, sexual violence, and recruitment of children by roving bands of armed groups across the country. With the support of DFATD and other donors, the United Nations World Food Programme is providing life-saving food assistance to approximately 1,250,000 vulnerable people in the CAR. Activities include: (i) providing food assistance to 1,112,000 internally displaced people, refugees, and other vulnerable groups; (ii) providing nutrition support to 190,500 children under the age of five to prevent and treat malnutrition and to 10,000 pregnant and lactating women suffering from moderate acute malnutrition; (iii) supporting school feeding programs to encourage 197,000 children in areas where schools have opened again to enrol; and (iv) providing food assistance to 15,500 people living with HIV.
