WASH Severity Classification: Central African Republic (CAR)

The document provides an overview of the water, hygiene, and sanitation (WASH) situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) as of February 2022. It highlights critical humanitarian needs across all sub-prefectures, with 33 in a severe phase due to inadequate drinking water access, open defecation practices, and high child mortality and malnutrition rates. The WASH Severity Classification (WSC) is an inter-agency initiative led by the global WASH cluster, UNICEF, and IMPACT Initiatives, aiming to standardize the classification of WASH needs severity across contexts. The report's findings are from a streamlined WSC exercise conducted in January and February 2022, considering data from the previous six months, including government databases and UN and NGO assessments. The analysis identified key factors determining the WASH situation and was reviewed by local WASH experts. The document also discusses major challenges affecting CAR's WASH conditions, such as worsening security, climate change risks like floods and droughts, and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors contribute to the displacement of populations, pressure on insufficient WASH resources and services, and the spread of waterborne diseases. The report anticipates a deterioration in WASH conditions over the next six months due to escalating conflicts and limited humanitarian access.