Rome, April 8 April 8 (IANS/WAM): The crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) is devastating the economy and people's ability to secure basic necessities, a new joint assessment by UN agencies said.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) warned that the country needed a "long and expensive" humanitarian operation over at least the next 18 months to stem the growing toll, and pave the way to rebuild livelihoods.

The two UN agencies issued the report as they took action to help displaced and other conflict-affected families gain immediate access to food and cash.

The joint assessment states that widespread conflict since December 2012 has caused the destruction of livelihoods as well as the loss of food and cash crops, livestock and crucial productive assets across the country.

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.

Since early 2013, the people of the CAR have been facing serious challenges in accessing food due to reduced supplies, trade disruption, and loss of purchasing power.