Central African Republic Faces Humanitarian Crisis as Aid Funding Dries Up
The Central African Republic (CAR) has shown promising signs of progress toward stability after years of conflict, but escalating aid budget cuts now threaten to derail humanitarian efforts in the region. Edem Wosornu, Director of the Crisis Response Division at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), issued this stark warning following her recent visit to the country.
CAR, a nation of approximately six million people, has been grappling with recurrent violence since 2013, when Séléka rebels overthrew the government, triggering retaliatory actions by the Christian anti-Balaka militia. Despite ongoing support from the UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, nearly 2.3 million Central Africans still rely on humanitarian aid, with 1.3 million being the primary target of relief efforts. Alarmingly, one in five citizens remains displaced.
Wosornu described the CAR as a nation caught between fragility and hope. “The country is fragile, but the country is hopeful,” she told reporters in New York on Friday. However, she cautioned that progress could quickly unravel if international funding is not sustained.
Historically, CAR has enjoyed strong financial backing for its humanitarian appeals, with donors funding 95% of requests. But this trend has reversed dramatically. The 2025 humanitarian plan is less than 40% funded, and this year’s appeal for $268 million has received only 17% of the required amount so far. Such drastic cuts have forced humanitarian organizations to scale back operations, closing 20% of their offices nationwide—120 out of 634 facilities.
Wosornu highlighted the dire consequences of these reductions. “If we don’t sustain the funding, we will see ourselves slipping back into crisis mode—a situation we can’t afford,” she warned.
Signs of Progress Amid Challenges
During her visit, Wosornu traveled to Zemio, a southeastern town bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where insecurity has long plagued the region. However, she noted positive changes over the past six months, including the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their communities. Supported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), many residents are now farming their lands during periods of peace. Additionally, the international medical NGO ALIMA, funded by the UN, operates bi-weekly mobile clinics that serve up to 70 people at a time.
Wosornu also met with CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadéra and local officials, who expressed determination to move beyond crisis mode. “Things are changing,” Wosornu acknowledged, but she stressed that sustained attention and funding are critical to maintaining this momentum.
A Generous Nation in Need
Despite its own struggles, CAR has shown remarkable generosity by hosting refugees from neighboring countries. Over 36,000 Sudanese refugees fleeing conflict have found shelter in CAR, where authorities have provided them with land to cultivate. Among these refugees are doctors and nurses eager to contribute to local humanitarian efforts.
Wosornu emphasized the need to integrate these refugees into the local economy while addressing their immediate needs. “How do we support these refugees that have come over but also help them to feed into the economy?” she asked.
The Human Cost of Funding Cuts
The funding crunch has already had severe consequences. Humanitarian organizations have been forced to reduce essential services, including healthcare and education. For instance, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) reported a decline in reporting on gender-based violence, not because incidents have decreased, but because humanitarian workers lack the resources to monitor the entire country.
Wosornu underscored the challenges faced by local communities. In Zemio, she spoke with Fane, a community leader and mother who dreams of stability, healthcare, education for her children, and livelihood support. Yet, such aspirations remain elusive as funding cuts threaten even basic services like food and healthcare.
“Communicable diseases are very rampant,” Wosornu noted, adding that CAR’s proximity to other fragile states further complicates the situation.
A Call to Action
Wosornu urged the international community to step up its support for CAR. “We need to do all we can to support the communities on the ground to sustain themselves: from health to education, from education to food security, and everything else that we cover,” she said.
With just $16 needed to feed a displaced person for three months and $26 to provide them with healthcare for a year, the cost of sustaining humanitarian efforts is relatively low. Yet, the lack of funding threatens to reverse the modest gains CAR has achieved.
As the CAR teeters on the edge of renewed crisis, the question remains: Will the world heed the call to action, or will this fragile nation once again slip into chaos?
— Reported by Nexio News
