2.5 million people in Central African Republic face hunger - WFP

According to a report released by the World Food Programme (WFP), nearly 2.5 million people in the Central African Republic face hunger.This is nearly half of the population.

This marks a doubling in the number of hungry people in a one-year period, as conflict and insecurity have led to limited access to and availability of food.

“Three years of crisis have taken a huge toll on the people of the CAR. Families have been forced so often to sell what they own, pull their kids out of school, even resort to begging, that they have reached the end of their rope. This is not the usual run-of-the-mill emergency. People are left with nothing,” said Guy Adoua, WFP Deputy Country Director in the CAR.

The report also shows that the 2014-2015 harvest was poor and that food prices remain high.

Additionally, one in six women, men and children struggle with severe or extreme food insecurity.

Currently, the WFP is providing emergency food and nutritional support to those most vulnerable.

The body also recommends continued emergency food assistance to displaced families and returnees and food and technical assistance to farmers .

In December 2015, WFP provided food for nearly 400,000 people through general food distributions, cash-based transfers, nutrition support and school meals.