Southwestern Central African Republic faces a serious nutritional emergency. The crisis in the gold and diamond sector, on which many of the region’s inhabitants depend, is the last straw for an already vulnerable population. Alerted by local authorities, Médecins Sans Frontières teams have opened four feeding centres in one month in Carnot, Boda, Nola and Gamboula, and have started outpatient treatment programs in the area.

Read an interview with Carol Calero, an MSF doctor working on the nutritional emergency in southwestern Central African Republic

Assessments have revealed rates of severe malnutrition far exceeding the emergency threshold in some areas. In barely one and a half months over 1,300 children, most suffering from severe malnutrition, have been admitted to MSF programs.

A large number of patients had to be admitted for medical complications. “In Boda and Nola, for instance, it is difficult to find patients only suffering from malnutrition, as many of them arrive here suffering from other diseases and their condition is very severe. There are many cases of malaria, diarrhoea, tuberculosis or AIDS, which further complicates children’s already delicate condition,” explains Clara Delacre, MSF coordinator in Nola.

“Several elements can explain this situation, one of them is the crisis affecting the diamond and gold sector, the main means of sustenance for most of the people in the area,” adds Delacre. The crisis has left many former miners unemployed and without incomes. In addition, many diamond and gold traders have been forced to close in the past few months.

The economic crisis has only added to the chronic difficulties in the region: a very poor cassava-based diet, lack of access to healthcare for most of the population, and the onset of the rainy season have increased the risk of contracting malaria and other diseases.

In the region, the diet is primarily cassava-based. Other basic foods like meat are now as hard to find as diamonds. According to local inhabitants, the problem started some years ago when groups of bandits started threatening cattle farmers, who fled to Cameroon.

Another contributing factor is the lack of access to healthcare. People have to pay for medical care and medicines, which they cannot afford. This problem has been compounded by the recent loss of income in many families and the closure of many health centres.

“MSF has come here to respond to the emergency, treating the most severe cases. Yet there are background problems requiring a broader response,” concludes Delacre.

MSF has been working in CAR since 1997. Currently, the organization is caring for people affected by violence in north-eastern areas of the country, in Kabo, Batangafo, Boguila, Markounda, Maïtikoulou, Paoua and Bocaranga.