Central African Republic Situation Update CHAD The security situation in Bangui has deteriorated. Streets are empty, and businesses closed. On 19 December a Chadian MISCA soldier was killed and others wounded in an alleged attack by anti-Balaka Map goes here militia in Gobongo area. MISCA and French forces responded. Many have fled their homes to join the tens of thousands of IDPs gathered at the airport. Situation Report #22 21 December 2013 December 21 #22 Report Situation The political situation remains fragile in the capital, where demonstrations calling for the interim President’s resignation were reported in a number of Clashes/violence neighbourhoods on 20 December. Shooting took place. Central African Republic UN movements were temporarily suspended. MISCA and French forces managed to contain the situation. A grenade was thrown in the area of Eglise Castor in Bangui; a WFP food distribution was to planned for that In numbers day. The incident took place before the arrival of staff. No confirmed reports yet of casualties at the site. 176,632 people have received assis- tance since the escalation of violence 1,285 mt have been distributed Assistance Bangui: On 18 December, WFP together with partner WFP Food Assistance Beneficiaries mt COOPI and UNHCR was able to recommence distribu- Central African Republic Republic African Central (December 2013 ) tions to populations gathered near the airport. 2,304 beneficiaries were assisted before a large crowd Bangui 118,533 506 rushed to the site, some armed. No staff were in- Bossangoa 36,605 515 jured, but it was not possible to continue distribution, and WFP was unable to reach the planned 15,000 Bouar 21,494 249 people in need. Alternatives are being explored, in- cluding the possibility to provide cooked rations, to reduce risk of looting. Funding appeal Violence is very localized. That same day, smooth distributions were implemented for 1,527 beneficiar- USD 107 million for food, nutrition, ies in Boy Rabe area. and emergency school meals through August 2014* On 19 December food support continued in Bangui: 5,047 persons were assisted in two areas of the city. USD 5 million to maintain humani- On 20 December, WFP was unable to deliver to new tarian air services through 2014* sites due to the violence and demonstrations, but distributions to sites where food had been delivered USD 3.4 million for ETC and logistics the day prior did continue. cluster support through May 2014 Bossangoa: In Eveche 1,828 beneficiaries received USD 1 million to support the food food on 19 December and 2,347 on 20 December. cluster Bouar: 8,285 persons were assisted under an ongo- *Approximations. The EMOP is being finalized, ing swamp development activity on 20 December. and SO UNHAS is undergoing an extension. Staff Deployment WFP EMERGENCY OPERATION 200650 : Specialized staff continue to arrive in Bangui. Given the volatile security, evolving needs, and WFP previously deployed 3 international staff to complex working environment, WFP is temporar- support the preliminary scale-up between ily suspending its current PRRO and CP. An October and November. Since the newest wave EMOP is being finalized for a phased response: of violence, 10 additional staff have been deployed. Between now and early January Phase 1 (January–April): WFP will focus pri- additional programme, security and logistics staff marily on scaling up food support to displaced are arriving. A humanitarian coordinator and a and severely food insecure populations, supple- nutrition specialist are being identified. mented by a special malnutrition prevention ra- tion to cover children under 5 years and wom- WFP currently has national and international staff en of reproductive age. Nutrition support to on the ground in Bangui, Bossangoa, Bouar, PLWHIV/AIDS and emergency school meals will Pauoua, Bambari. support particularly vulnerable groups. Target: 397,000 persons. Phase 2 (May-August): A safety net for mod- Logistics erately food insecure populations at risk of fall- A senior Chief Air Transport Officer arrived in ing will be introduced, and nutrition and school Bangui in the last days to support humanitarian meal activities scaled up as the lean season es- air services in the country; en route, the CATO calates and already limited stocks and purchas- met with partners in Doualla, Cameroon. ing power are exhausted. Target: 1.24 million persons. WFP manages UNHAS operations with two LET- The operation is valued at USD 107 million. Situation Report #22 21 December 2013 December 21 #22 Report Situation 410 aircrafts (12 passenger capacity each) to serve 27 domestic destinations. WFP has activated a dedicated Supply Chain Pipeline Working Group for Central African Republic to monitor availability and movement of stocks. The EMOP will plans for some 73,600 mt of food between January and August 2014, including On 19 December WFP chartered a strategic airlift more than 53,000 mt of cereals and nearly 8,750 from Brindisi, carrying critical logistics and mt of special nutrition products. The immediate security equipment required for the scale up, as priority is the procurement of commodities for well as 17.3 mt of Supplementary Plumpy and Phase 1 (January-April), for which WFP requires 2.6 mt of WHO emergency health kits . 22,400 mt of various commodities, or an average of 5,600 mt per month. Food security cluster WFP is facing immediate shortfalls from January, with current resources sufficient to WFP and partners from the Food Security Cluster cover 2/3 of needs. From February the agency are evaluating possible additional partners for faces a near complete break in stocks (90% Central African Republic Republic African Central emergency food distribution activities, and shortfall). Given the highly volatile situation, it exploring options to provide wet feeding at IDP is imperative that WFP be in a position to respond distribution sites where there is a risk of looting to planned needs as well as potential further and concern for the safety of beneficiaries. increase in needs beyond current plan. Partnership Currently there are cereals, pulses and other stocks available for immediate purchase A Multi-cluster initial rapid assessment (MIRA) is through the Douala corridor (Cameroon) and in planned over the coming two the three weeks. the region. Additional funding is urgently required WFP will take the lead on the exercise. The to initiate procurement and maximize these preliminary desk review is underway. purchases. Without this, WFP will lose the window of opportunity and could be required to rely on international purchase, with an average Contacts lead time of 4 months. Denise Brown, Emergency Coordinator WFP is activating its internal advance financing Carlos Veloso, Deputy Emergency Coordinator mechanisms and the Forward Purchase Facility, but requires additional support. Logistics Cluster: Jean Emile Canu Food Security Cluster: Eric Michel-Sellier ETC cluster: Caroline Teyssier http://www.wfp.org/countries/central-african-republic .