The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that the humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) remains critical with the population continuing to face insecurity, while the ongoing conflict in Sudan is exacerbating the situation in CAR’s northern region.
According to the UN Refugee agency (UNHCR), more than 13,800 people, including Sudanese asylum seekers and Central African returnees crossed the border from Sudan into CAR since the beginning of the conflict. Their number is expected to increase as the security situation in Sudan remains volatile. Women and children represent more than 90 percent of asylum-seekers and returnees.
Overall, neraly 400,000 refugees have fled Sudan since the start of the conflict in mid-April.
The Central African Republic is already suffering from a major displacement crisis. The total displaced population amounts now to more than 1.2 million people, with over 741,000 refugees fleeing to neighboring countries and at least 483,000 people displaced inside the country. With one-fifth of its population forced to flee, CAR is the country - behind South Sudan - with the second-highest level of forced displacement in Africa.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan is aggravating the situation in the northern region of CAR that was already experiencing acute food insecurity, limited basic services such as health, education, and livelihoods. According to OCHA, traffic between Sudan and the Central African Republic has been severely disrupted, causing a sharp increase in the price of basic goods as Sudan is the main market supplier particularly in the Vakaga and the Bamingui-Bangoran prefectures.
During the rainy season from April to October, access is very challenging and supplies largely depend on Sudan. According to local sources, prices have doubled for some items. A 50-kg bag of sugar, which sold for XAF 40,000 before the conflict is now worth XAF 80,000. A small bowl of millet that used to cost XAF 500 is now worth XAF 1,000.
The northern region of CAR was already experiencing acute food insecurity, a situation that is projected to reach one of its most severe stages by August if an adequate response is not forthcoming. As 50 percent of the population in the country is not eating enough, CAR has one of the highest proportions of critically food-insecure people in the world. Up to 2.4 million people will likely experience crisis levels of acute food insecurity - or worse - countrywide between April and August 2023. An estimated 622,000 will be in emergency levels of hunger.
Meanwhile, violence against civilians and insecurity continues to push Central Africans into displacement. Following acts of extortions by armed groups in Vakaga, Ouham-Pendé and Haut-Mbomou prefectures, thousands of civilians fearing for their safety fled from their villages in May, the UN office reported. Joint military operation by CAR and Chad armies in northern Paoua sub-prefecture near Chadian borders likewise caused preventive temporary displacement of populations.
In addition, explosive device related incidents have worriedly increase in the country with the western region remaining the most affected. In Ouham-Pendé Prefecture the number of incidents has increased 4-fold in one year. Since the beginning of the year, 34 incidents were recorded, killing 14 civilians and injuring 19 others, OCHA said.
The Central African Republic (CAR) has been among the most neglected humanitarian crises for several years in a row. The country has been troubled by violent unrest since 2012. More than half of its population – 56 percent - requires humanitarian aid in 2023.
While insecurity and violence against civilians continue to force Central Africans to flee their homes, humanitarian and development actors are helping many internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees to resume a normal life after several years of displacement.
Although clashes between conflict parties have lessened in intensity, violence against civilians has not, and their livelihoods continue to deteriorate. A large portion of the Central African Republic's population is still facing a humanitarian crisis, particularly in areas outside urban centers.
Overall, 3.4 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2023. Among them are some 1.4 million children currently in need of support. According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Central African Republic is one of the toughest places in the world to be a child.
The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for the Central African Republic requires $465 million and is currently only 27% covered. Meanwhile, the humanitarian community is preparing a supplement to the HRP to adapt the response to the new situation. Of the estimated 130,000 people in need in the north of the country, the supplement will benefit 25,000 people most affected by the crisis in Sudan and in need of immediate assistance, namely IDPs and host populations.
Further information
Full text: Central African Republic: Situation Report, 2 June 2023, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, released June 2, 2023
https://reliefweb.int/report/central-african-republic/central-african-republic-situation-report-2-june-2023
Full text: Central African Republic: Humanitarian Snapshot - May 2023, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, released May 31,2023
https://reliefweb.int/report/central-african-republic/central-african-republic-humanitarian-snapshot-may-2023