CERF gives the Central African Republic $2 million in response to drought and food insecurity

19 July 2012: For nearly a decade, areas of the Central African Republic (CAR) have faced continued violence due to conflict between armed ethnic groups, leading to population displacements. The conflict is exacerbated by a lack of basic social services in the affected regions, leaving thousands of people without health care, education, clean water and appropriate sanitation services.

The Humanitarian Country Team in CAR is concerned that conditions are likely to deteriorate. This is due to the approaching rainy season; delayed agricultural cultivation due to population displacement and insecurity; poor crop yields due to drought; and the massive return of internally displaced persons to food-insecure regions.

In response, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has given US$1,993,713 to four UN agencies to fund life-saving interventions to help some 32,000 people affected by conflict and drought.

The World Food Programme (WFP) received $1.2 million to provide emergency food for 11,000 vulnerable people.

In response to children suffering from malnutrition, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) received $479,972 to provide emergency nutrition interventions for more than 6,000 children under age 5.
CERF also provided $272,477 to fund a multisectoral project to respond to a measles outbreak, obstetric emergencies and food insecurity of the most vulnerable households. Funding for this joint project has been given to UNICEF, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

For more information about CERF, visit: www.unocha.org/cerf