UN: Central African Republic needs urgent food aid

(Vatican Radio) A Burundian soldier was injured this weekend trying to stop an attack by a Christian militia in Central African Republic's capital, Bangui.

Thousands have died in recent months in Central African Republic, and most of the country's Muslims have fled Christian militias. The militias formed after the mainly-Muslim Séléka rebel movement took over the capital last year, and perpetrated anti-Christian violence.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have a released a joint report that states the widespread conflict since December 2012 has caused the destruction of livelihoods, loss of food and cash crops, livestock, and crucial productive assets across the country. As a result, about 1.6 million people directly affected by the crisis are in need of urgent food, more than double the level estimated just over a year ago, in February 2013.

Listen: