The Central African Republic is staring at one of the largest humanitarian crises of our time if immediate action is not taken to increase aid to the country, according to the UN.
Aurelien Agbenonci, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in CAR, said on Sunday if the shortfall for aid was not met, the UN “will not be able to continue humanitarian activities till the end of the year,” Al Jazeera reported.
Only 31% of the UN humanitarian appeal for the CAR have been secured, the UN said.
“This is an extremely difficult time for everyone but it would be a critical mistake for the international community to be lulled into thinking that stability has returned to the country.”
The comments came as one UN soldier was killed in CAR when fighting broke out in a northern neighborhood of the capital Bangui.
About a million people have been displaced since Seleka fighters took control of Bangui in March 2013. Around 2.7 million people, more than half the population, are still in need of aid, while 1.5 million people have been affected by food insecurity.
“Putting an end to impunity by bringing perpetrators of human rights violations and grave violations against children to justice should be a priority,” Agbenonci said.
Amnesty said that more than 30,000 Muslims were living in seven protected enclaves around the country. Those living outside the enclaves faced a daily battle for survival.
The UN said that targeted attacks have resulted in a massive exodus of the Muslim and Fulani communities from CAR, with the communities still largely under threat from anti-Balaka militia.
