ReliefWeb

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mounting humanitarian needs: US $ 531 million are needed to respond.

• The Bozoum agricultural fair gives farmers the opportunity to sell their produce while learning new skills.

• Air transportation is key for the delivery of aid due to security and logistics constraints.

• Hundreds of families are affected by recurrent fire outbreaks on IDP sites.

Humanitarian partners seek US$531 million for CAR in 2016

In 2016, UN agencies and humanitarian partners in the Central African Republic (CAR) are requesting US$531 million to provide vital assistance to millions of people affected by the crisis through its Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP).

In January, there has been a 4 percent reduction of the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs), with 435,000 IDPs countrywide, including 67,000 IDPs in Bangui, compared to 452,000 IDPs in December 2015, according to figures provided by the Population Movement Commission.

“After two long years of instability, the magnitude and complexity of the humanitarian crisis in CAR are unprecedented, the majority of the population remains extremely affected, vulnerable and exposed to general poverty and insecurity as the basic indicators remain alarming in the areas of nutrition, health, food security, and education and serious violations of human rights,” said Aurélien Agbénonci, CAR Humanitarian Coordinator.

Half of the population in need of assistance Half the population of CAR – about 2.1 million people- are food insecure and 2,3 million require emergency assistance.

Acute malnutrition will threaten the lives and development of 2 million people. “Conflict has devastated hundreds of thousands of people, trapping them in conflict areas and denying them access to basic provisions and healthcare. The HRP, if fully funded, can help us to provide the relief required. CAR is a difficult and dangerous place to work but the humanitarian community remains committed to helping the most vulnerable people caught in the crisis,” added Mr. Agbénonci.

The emergency in CAR remains one of the worst protection crises faced by the international community at the global level, causing enormous humanitarian needs.

The protection of civilians remains the outmost priority. Summary executions of men are reported while violence against women is rampant. Between 6,000 and 10,000 boys and girls have been forcibly recruited by armed groups. Many cases of gender based violence are being reported, including among IDPs. These are generally instigated by armed men.

Thousands of people have been killed in violence since December 2013 and more than 187,000 refugees have fled to neighbouring countries since the start of the crisis, bringing the total number of CAR refugees in the region to over 470,000 as of 18 February. The CAR crisis is adversely affecting the security and economic situation in neighbouring countries.

The crisis also impedes the population’s access to the already limited basic social services. Public health facilities lack essential medicine and medical equipment. More than 50 per cent of the population lives with food insecurity and lacks access to drinking water, hygiene and sanitation. The level of chronic malnutrition among children has increased and is currently among the highest in the world (around 40 per cent of the under 5-year old population). Safe drinking water is scarce. Less than 35 per cent of the population has access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities.

Humanitarian action in 2016

Based on assessed humanitarian needs and identified response priorities, in 2016, humanitarian partners plan to assist 1,9 million food-insecure people and over 435,000 IDPs. Assistance will also be provided to 1 million people in need of access to basic healthcare services including the prevention and fight against epidemics and to treat 85,000 acutely malnourished people. Access to water and hygiene will also be provided to about 1.4 million people countrywide. Considering that CAR is facing a protection crisis, this year, protection assistance is targeting 1.88 million people including survivors of gender- based violence, people affected by the protracted inter-community violence and children in need of protection. The HRP supports the efforts made by national authorities –whose capacity has been severely undermined by the conflict- to provide safety-nets for the most vulnerable communities.

The three main objectives of the HRP are:

1. Promote the respect of basic rights.

2. Save lives - Affected populations have access to an integrated emergency assistance to ensure their survival while preserving their security and dignity.

3. Preserve human dignity - Ensure that people affected and at risk have improved access to basic social services; their basic safety nets and coping mechanisms are strengthened and preserved.