14 January 2014 – More than 2.5 million people in the Central African Republic require food, health care and other humanitarian aid. That's according to a joint assessment by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Humanitarian Affairs Office (OCHA).

The study says displaced people in the capital, Bangui, also need immediate survival assistance.

WFP spokesperson Elisabeth Byrs expressed concern about adequate nutrition for vulnerable people such as children and new mothers.

"The average number of meals has declined from two to three to just one meal per day for 90 per cent of those surveyed in the rapid assessment. The quality of food is also of concern because it's poorer and it's a risk for the nutrition of these people and in particular, those who are more fragile like children, lactating women or pregnant women."

Byrs reports that food prices across the Central African Republic have also skyrocketed due to disruption of the transport system which has affected access to markets.

Source: UN Radio [listen/download]