A picture of children in Central African Republic

The United Nations (UN)’s food agency has warned that nearly two million people are in urgent need of food in the violence-stricken Central African Republic (CAR).

Iran press/ Africa: The World Food Program (WFP) expressed alarm that the African country was in it's worst era of food insecurity over the past four years.

WFP spokesman Herve Verhoosel said figures on food security compiled by the UN food agency in September found “the worst results since 2014, with 1.9 million people in need of urgent food action.” Press TV reported.

The official warned that urgent action was necessary “to prevent a humanitarian tragedy” in the CAR, blaming the deteriorating situation on the “persistent insecurity.”

The CAR has been witnessing violence since a coup ousted Central African Republic president Francois Bozize in 2013.

Since then, the resource-rich but impoverished African country has been beset by simmering sectarian violence, which has claimed thousands of lives.

Reports say there are at least 18 armed groups operating in the country of four million, fighting for control of the natural resources. The conflict has led to the displacement of more than a quarter of the CAR’s population.

The UN has around 12,500 personnel deployed in the CAR as part of its MINUSCA mission, one of the world body’s largest peacekeeping forces. 104/202

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