Central African Republic

Funding appeals and humanitarian action updates

The Central African Republic is suffering from a multi-faceted crisis. Located right at the heart of the African continent, this forgotten country has endured more than a decade of armed conflict. The worst-affected regions are located in the northeast and northwest of the country where rebel forces and government troops continue to clash. Most significantly however, the past few months has a seen a real upsurge in the number of "Coupeurs de Route" attacks in the country’s lawless northwest. "Bandits" continue to target families; burning and looting houses, kidnapping children and killing civilians. At least 197,000 people have been displaced internally. More than 2,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are currently living in Kabo, a town in north-central CAR, located close to the Chadian border. A further 98,000 have been displaced into neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and the Sudan. In the month of February alone, thousands of new refugees poured into southern Chad fleeing "Coupeurs de Route" attacks in the northwest. Many displaced continue to live in the bush without any real access to basic rights and services. The past three months has also seen a surge in attacks on humanitarian personnel. Despite the difficult and often hazardous working conditions that prevail across northern CAR, UNICEF continues to have a strong field presence. Field offices in the northeast (Kaga Bandoro) and northwest (Bossangoa) ensure that UNICEF and their partners continue to address the needs of the country’s most vulnerable.  It must be noted that about 30 relief organisations are now operating in the remote northeast and northwest regions of CAR, revealing a significant increase in the aid presence since 2006, when only five NGOs worked in the landlocked country.
CAR Humanitarian Action Update 28 Mar 2008 [pdf]

In the northern prefectures of the Central African Republic, more than 610,000 women and children continue to endure a chronic poverty and conflict which has been responsible for decimating both lives and livelihoods. A classic example of a “forgotten emergency”, CAR has suffered from more than a decade of political instability. The worst-affected regions are located in the northwest of the country where rebel forces and government troops continue to clash, despite ongoing talks of a peace agreement. Many citizens have been directly affected by the fighting. As of December 2007, 295,000 people had been forcibly displaced; 197,000 of these had remained in CAR, in many cases living in the bush and a further 98,000 had been displaced into neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and the Sudan. In return, CAR has received thousands of refugees from Chad and the Sudan. In many cases, the displaced are living in the bush without access to basic rights and services. Even more worrying is the prevalence of Coupeur de Route attacks which have played a large part in destabilising the country’s northwest. Attacks on humanitarian workers are also becoming disturbingly common. The ongoing insecurity has also led to the complete decimation of public infrastructure across the north. Many schools and hospitals remain closed due to the conflict and thousands of families have lost their homes and possessions. Economic development is stagnating in much of the north and jobs remain in short supply. This chronic poverty combined with the direct impact of the conflict is severely undermining many families’ ability to provide for their children. Despite financial constraints and challenges posed by the ongoing insecurity, UNICEF is continuing to extend its field presence in an effort to reach more of the country’s vulnerable women and children. Both the Kaga-Bandoro and Bossangoa field offices have expanded significantly over the past few months as part of UNICEF’s broader strategy of decentralisation. This has allowed the organisation to reach more beneficiaries on the ground. UNICEF is responding to the needs of children and women in the areas of health, water, sanitation and hygiene, protection and education.
CAR Humanitarian Action Update 16 Jan 2008 [pdf]