Ten trucks carrying WFP food β metric tons of rice and maize meal β arrived in Bangui on Monday, after a kilometre journey from the Cameroon border.
The convoy was slowed by frequent improvised checkpoints set up by armed groups. Another 41 commercial trucks carrying WFP cereals are still stranded at the Cameroonian border, along with hundreds of other vehicles. Drivers are reluctant to cross the border, despite the offer of military escorts along the road to Bangui. The impact on food supplies to the capital and the rest of the country has been disastrous. WFP is prioritizing distributions at the Bangui airport and has started further distributions to 40, people in and around the northwestern town of Bossangoa.
Deliveries to other places cannot be carried out until trucks can drive safely along routes and their movement to Bangui is secured. WFP continues to urge all parties to the conflict to allow the safe and unhindered passage of humanitarian personnel and supplies to people in need.
Food distributions have been suspended in the northwestern towns of Bouar and Bozoum because of fighting. Before the interruption, nearly 10, people received food rations of cereals, pulses, vegetable oil and salt in Bouar.
Since the start of the year, WFP has assisted , people with food in Bangui, Bossangoa and Bouar, including close to 50, displaced in the makeshift camp at Bangui airport. Some 25, people in smaller camps across the capital also received WFP food this month. In order for displaced people to receive food in the immediate future, new funding is required urgently to buy food that should be prepositioned across the country before the start of the rainy season in May.
