Highest food insecurity in central and western areas, with flooding in the south as well

• Persistent civil security, particularly in central and western areas of the country, are threatening to sharply reduce food production and consumption.

• Repeated waves of refugees/returnees could expose growing numbers of people to Crisis (IPC Phase 3) levels of acute food insecurity. The loss of their livelihoods and impediments to the delivery of humanitarian assistance are expected to put a small proportion of the worst-off households in Emergency (IPC Phase 4).

• Certain southern areas of the country have been exposed to flooding, causing significant damage to the livelihoods of households already adversely affected by the civil conflict. These flooding problems could affect other areas, with forecasts by the national weather service calling for steady rain, with no let-up in its intensity.

Though households across the country are still impacted by the effects of the conflict in the Central African Republic, the worst-off households are reportedly in the country’s central and western regions/prefectures. Continuing attacks on residents of prefectures in the central and north-central reaches of the country such as Ouaka, Nana Gribizi, Ouham, and Kemo are triggering internal population displacements. Most of these IDPs are living with host households. According to the OCHA situation report as of June 10, 2015, the Commission on Population Movements estimates the number of internally displaced persons at 426,240, with the largest concentrations in Ouaka, Nana Gribizi, and Ouham prefectures.

Former refugee populations returning to their home villages are also severely affected by the conflict. According to the Commission on Population Movements, there are 131,000 formerly displaced persons back in their home areas living with host families. Unable to work their land, their extremely limited crop production for 2014 has made them virtually completely dependent on their host family and humanitarian assistance. With their lack of income, they have no market access and their presence is putting an added strain on the resources of their host families. The home areas of these returnees are concentrated mainly in Ouham Pende, Nana Mambéré, and Nana Kadéi prefectures.

In addition to these population movements for security reasons, natural forces such as floods have also triggered internal population displacements. The steady rainfall since April has flooded parts of Berberati (in Mambéré Kadéi prefecture). According to a rapid assessment conducted by the local committee of the Red Crescent in the Central African Republic, these floods have affected 210 households or a total of 1,109 people, completely destroying 199 homes. Some of these households have been taken in by host families in conflict areas. Other displaced persons are living outdoors, exposed to the elements, under poor sanitary conditions created by the flooding problems, at risk of contracting all sorts of contagious diseases. These flooding problems are liable to continue and to impact other areas, with forecasts by the national weather service calling for steady rain, with no let-up in its intensity.

Humanitarian assistance programs are focusing on the distribution of food supplies. According to a preliminary report referenced in the OCHA situation report as of the end of May 2015, 2,600 metric tons of provisions have been distributed by the WFP to 402,000 recipients. According to the same OCHA source, the FAO has sufficient funding for the distribution of farm implements and inputs to approximately 148,000 households, or 50 percent of its 250,000 target households. The report also mentions that displaced households, their host families, and returnees are not yet receiving any livelihood protection or livelihood recovery assistance.

The continuing effects of the conflict on the growing season are reflected in the smaller areas planted in crops. Thus, even with assistance, the smaller cropped areas as a result of the conflict, which is preventing access to farmland in certain areas, could reduce crop production compared with figures prior to the security crisis.

Displaced populations living in camps and with host families and large numbers of flood-stricken DPs, returnees, and host households unable to maintain their food access to meet their food needs are facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) levels of acute food insecurity. They have lost their crops and access to their livelihoods. Road security issues and flooding problems are impeding access to and scheduled deliveries of humanitarian assistance bringing in food supplies. There are no active sources of income as a result of the conflict, which is restricting access to rural areas for the pursuit of income-generating activities such as the cutting and sale of wood and production and sale of charcoal. With the civil insecurity and population displacements expected to continue for the foreseeable future and the steady rainfall producing more flooding and flood victims, there will be Crisis (IPC Phase 3) levels of food insecurity for the next few months. A small group of the worst-off households, mainly flood-affected households in areas with civil security problems, could be facing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) conditions.