2025 humanitarian needs and response: a challenge on resource test

Humanitarian needs remain high in the Central African Republic (CAR), despite the recent improvement in the security situation in some localities, with still high proportions of vulnerable people revealed by the annual multi-sectoral needs assessment. This is the finding from evidence-based data collected from households, joint analysis of the context by the humanitarian community, and consultations with representatives of affected communities.

Even if the trend of recent shocks facing the population has been decreasing in the last two years, particularly clashes between armed men, the situation remains worrying in regions where insecurity is still present and where the population is exposed to structural and climate-related issues. As a result of the insecurity, one in five Central African remains displaced either within the country or abroad, mainly in neighbouring countries. Clashes between parties to the conflict and attacks on civilians and associated infrastructure remain recurrent and continue to lead to new displacements which have a negative impact on the well-being of the population.

The scale of humanitarian needs

2.4 million people - or 37.5 per cent of the population - are extremely vulnerable in 2025, to the extent that humanitarian assistance alone will not be enough to restore their well-being. The drop in this number compared to 2024 is partly linked to the improved security situation in certain localities, and to the fact that the humanitarian community has carried out a rigorous analysis and targeting of humanitarian needs, advocating for development funding where the situation has improved. Border regions with Chad and Sudan, the south-east and the west continue to face challenges of insecurity and displacement.

To ensure that the preferences of affected communities were considered, 14,000 households took part in focus groups with humanitarian actors. As a result, the priority needs expressed by affected communities relate to water, hygiene and sanitation, food security and health sectors respectively.

The cost of the humanitarian response

To meet the above needs, considering priorities and available resources, the humanitarian community will need to mobilize US$326.1 to assist 1.8 million of the most vulnerable Central Africans. Priority zones for humanitarian assistance are those affected by shocks (conflict and violence, disasters, epidemics, etc.) in the last 12 months and/or those where internally displaced persons represent at least 25 per cent of the total population. In the remaining zones, the humanitarian community will encourage other actors, notably those involved in development, to capitalize on the achievements of the humanitarian response to address structural problems. However, as the Central African context has shown, a region that was once stable can suddenly experience shocks, triggering humanitarian needs. In support of the government's primary responsibility to ensure the well-being of the population, humanitarian actors will continue to maintain a physical presence throughout the country, to ensure that no-one is left behind, in line with available resources and existing priorities.

Increasingly limited resources

Already a source of concern in 2024, resources to meet humanitarian needs in 2025 are severely testing humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian programs were halted in 2024, while several organizations had to reorganize their operational presence, including in closing their offices. 2025 began with the suspension of the US foreign aid, which supported around 50 per cent of the humanitarian response in CAR in 2024, including life-saving food assistance, healthcare and drinking water supply. Furthermore, as most of the affected people live in hard-to-reach areas and therefore require more resources, humanitarian actors may be faced with difficult choices. In anticipation of the scarcity of resources, the humanitarian community has worked on a plan to operationalize the humanitarian response to set common priorities for greater efficiency.

In support of the government, humanitarian actors will continue to respond to needs arising from recent shocks, particularly in areas experiencing population movements, epidemics and climate-related shocks affecting people's livelihoods. This approach will lay foundations to build on in times of stability, thus complementing the national development plan, which aims to reinforce security and develop infrastructures.