The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) risks halting its aid operations in crisis-hit Central African Republic (CAR) due to lack of funding.
The C.A.R. has been riddled by violence since 2013 due to a breakout of clashes between the mainly Muslim Séléka rebel coalition and anti-Balaka militia.
The WFP says it aimed to support about one million people, but only managed to offer assistance to 400,000 due to the funding constraints.
. Rations have been halved and school meal distributions over the past two months have fallen short of intended goals. Throughout December, thousands of displaced people have been living off of a quarter of a standard food ration.
“The food distributed by WFP represents a lifeline for people who have lost everything. Suspending assistance will have a dramatic impact on the lives of already internally displaced people and refugees, who rely on our food distributions to feed themselves and their families,” said Felix Gomez, WFP Country Director in the country.
Gomez urged doors to help avert a greater humanitarian crisis in the country by offering more funding.
Without additional assistance, host communities will take on an unbearable burden, which could fuel tension and create security risks.
WFP needs $21.5 million in order to provide assistance to 150,000 people through June 2017.
