As a rebel coalition gains more control over Central African Republic, a hunger crisis is also escalating in the country. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said today, "The current situation is limiting WFP’s ability to provide country wide support."
WFP also said today that towns it distributed food to in December have now been occupied by rebel forces. Currently, food aid is suspended in areas held by the rebels.
Further troubling is that the extent of displacement and humanitarian needs is not yet fully known. A UNICEF-led assessment team is heading to conflict-affected areas.
In the capital city of Bangui, food prices have risen by 27 percent placing a further strain on the impoverished population. South African peacekeepers have been deployed to help prevent rebel forces from moving toward Bangui.
WFP is not only facing difficulty accessing areas, but also funding is low for its country programs including nutritional support for small children and school feeding. A humanitarian air service WFP runs is out of funding. This service allows humanitarian workers to be transported to hard to reach areas of the country where people are in need. WFP depends on voluntary donations from governments and the public.
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