Bangui, Central African Republic: An Urgent Call for Humanitarian Support

In the heart of Africa, where survival is more than a daily challenge, a humanitarian storm brews. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP) find themselves in a grim race against time, pleading for $14.8 million in aid by 2025. Why the urgency, you ask? The plight of more than 30,000 Sudanese refugees and their vulnerable host communities hangs in the balance.

Since the Sudan crisis erupted in 2023, the Central African Republic (CAR) has witnessed a relentless influx of Sudanese individuals fleeing chaos. Now, an estimated 31,000 souls seek sanctuary and support, chiefly in the far-flung Vakaga prefecture. Picture this: over 17,000 huddled in Korsi (Birao), while the remaining 14,000 brace the unforgiving terrain of hard-to-reach locales. What led to this spike? In 2024 alone, the refugee numbers escalated by nearly 90%, a staggering increase compared to 2023. Vakaga itself is no paradise; a domain where isolation reigns and poverty is woven into the fabric of life. Here, 46% grapple with food insecurity, while a staggering 89% of households cannot afford nutritious meals. “The crisis we’re facing is unprecedented, demanding urgent and sustained global assistance,” remarked Fafa Attidzah, UNHCR’s representative in CAR. Is the international fraternity listening?

Despite noble efforts by the WFP, UNHCR, and the Central African government, refugees remain trapped in reliance on humanitarian aid, a dependency fraught with peril. Limited funds strip them of basic services and livelihood prospects. Vulnerability, in this context, is not merely a word—it’s a daily reality. Imagine lacking shelter, education, and facing the grim specter of malnutrition. The strain extends to host communities, already fragile before this refugee tide surged upon their shores. Such pressure on scant resources could not have come at a worse time.

Aline Samu, WFP’s Deputy Representative in CAR, highlighted the grim reality, stating, “We can’t close our eyes or stay idle, not when food-insecure refugees lean on us sometimes for their sole daily meal. WFP’s support is a beacon of hope for these families.” Yet, without adequate funding, UNHCR faces a daunting challenge in meeting even the most basic protection and aid needs, from blankets and hygiene kits to medical supplies and shelter. Is the world prepared to let dignity wither away?

As 2025 unfolds, the WFP’s lifeline extends to nearly 20,000 Sudanese refugees scattered across Birao, Korsi, Kaga-Bandoro, Ndele, Pombole, and Rafai. But the horizon is bleak. Imagine the devastating impact should food supplies diminish or cease—severe food insecurity could become an irreversible scar on already fragile lives. A consequence too dire to fathom, potentially sowing discord with hosting communities over dwindling resources. Is crisis management possible without global financial solidarity?

The UNHCR and WFP thus issue an impassioned plea to the international stage: rally financial backing to address this dire crisis. The clock ticks, urging collective action to support the Central African government in coping with this burgeoning challenge. The human toll, should the allocation remain unmet, does not bear contemplation.