By Mark Smulian | 30 July 2013

The UK is to give £5m to help relieve a humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic.

This followed the United Nations describing the former French colony as a ‘forgotten crisis’, where its appeals for funding have so far met with limited response from the international community.

UK funding will provide 100,000 people with improved water and sanitation, and materials to rebuild their homes, access to healthcare for 250,000 people and emergency nutrition for some 50,000 people.

The money will also be used to fly in aid workers to remote regions.

The CAR’s entire 4.6 million population has been affected by the crisis, which was worsened by a coup in March and activity by the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army in the country’s southeast.

International development minister Lynne Featherstone said: ‘The appalling humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic has affected every man, woman and child in the country. Hundreds of thousands of people have been left without a home or basic services like health, water and education.

‘Britain will not look the other way while millions of the world’s most vulnerable people are suffering. This support will provide a lifeline to the people of CAR, helping them to rebuild after months of violence.’