2.2 million people need immediate humanitarian assistance; and one in five Central Africans is now internally displaced. These figures are likely to rise as the conflict places millions at risk of a full-scale food and nutrition security crisis due to low production in 2013 coupled with prevailing chronic countrywide malnutrition, extreme poverty and inappropriate sanitation.
The results of the Multisectorial Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) undertaken by FAO and its partners indicate that, in spite of insecurity, 78 percent of farmers will be cultivating in the coming weeks. However, 94 percent of communities report that they do not have enough seeds to plant for the next agricultural season.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has scaled up its presence and response in the Central African Republic to restore agriculture-based livelihoods and improve food security.
FAO aims to support 150 000 crisis-hit families in the Central African Republic to enable them produce their own food, protect their scarce resources and earn some income. The success of the main 2014 maize, sorghum and millet planting seasons, starting in March and May respectively, will be a turning point for food security.
More funds are needed to enable affected women and men to resume food production, feed their families and improve their overall food security and economic well-being.