Highlights

• Appointment of Joseph Binguimalé as the head of the Independent Electoral Commission
• Nearly 475 Central African refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo
• The Deputy Executive Director of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Hilde Johnson visited CAR
• “Reducing the impact of soaring food prices in CAR”

Background and security

Joseph Binguimalé at the head of the CIS

The 30-member Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) during a meeting on October 12th in Bangui, elected Pastor Joseph Binguimalé as their head. Binguimalé had previously served as vice-president at the Inclusive Political Dialogue (IPR), held in Bangui 8 to 20 December 2008.

The election, which was attended by the President of the Court of Cassation, Faustin Mbodou, Pastor Binguimalé received 19 votes (65%), against 5 received by Professor Abel Balenguele and 1 vote for the lawyer and defender of human rights, Mathias Morouba Bartholomew.

Coordination of the IEC is composed of five members of the opposition, five government representatives, five representatives of the presidential majority, five representatives of other parties, five representatives of civil society and representatives of five political-military movements.

The IRC will prepare and organize presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for March 2010.

Ange-Félix Patassé in Lybia

According to a Libyan official at a hearing on October 15, Muammar Gaddafi, Lybian president and acting President of the African Union (AU), has renewed his appeal to former CAR president Ange-Félix Patassé to return to his country to help restore lasting peace and stability.

As for Mr. Patassé, he urged on this occasion the President of the AU to continue his efforts under the title of permanent chief mediator for peace and security in the area of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), in particular so that the recommendations of the inclusive dialogue between different political parties in CAR can be implemented and enforced on the ground as soon as possible.

News

Central African refugees in DRC

From 4 to 6 October, a team of United Nations and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) visited the territory of Mobayi Mbongo, District of North Oubangi in the Province of Equateur (DRC), which borders the Central African Republic by the Oubangi River.
The purpose of this mission was to verify the presence of Central African refugees in this region, which followed ethnic clashes between Ngbugus and Ngbadis who live in the district of Basse-Kotto in CAR.

475 CAR refugees had been registered, according to the general directorate for migration.
The refugees did not express a wish of immediate return to their country, due to a reportedly unreliable security situation.
Most CAR refugees are gathered in two pavilions of the Hospital General of Mobayi Mbongo where they live under inhospitable conditions in a small space where women, children, and men from different families share the same room without any privacy.

The local response in terms of accommodation, care, and protection of these Central African refugees remains limited. Humanitarian organizations are virtually nonexistent in the DRC district of North Oubangui. Only a few local NGOs without financial backing try to support these refugees.

Contact kazadi@un.org for more information.

Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF in CAR

Hilde Johnson, the Deputy Executive Director of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has visited the CAR from 9 to 13 October to assess the humanitarian situation and the needs of children in CAR.

During her visit, she was able to meet with government officials, including the Prime Minister, donor representatives, humanitarian organizations, and UNICEF partners in the capital.
The Deputy Executive Director then went in the northern part of the country most affected by conflict, where she met with politicians, locals, and children participating in programs supported by UNICEF and its partners.

Ms. Johnson expressed concern about the deteriorating situation of children in a country in perpetual crisis, aggravated by the global financial crisis and the reduction in humanitarian funding.

Contact bstarkmerklein@unicef.org for more information.

New FAO projects

In response to the current food crisis, the United Nations and international financial institutions have collaborated with the European Union in developing a food facility amounting to one billion Euros to meet rapidly rising food prices in developing countries.

As part of this food facility, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has signed agreements with the EU for 25 projects totaling 284.7 million U.S. dollars, including 13.4 million dollars for the CAR.

To implement the abovementioned project, FAO organized a national workshop to launch the project, which took place on 15 October. The project entitled "Reducing the impact of soaring food prices in CAR" will be executed by FAO aves its various partners Government of Company civil, private sector and producer groups.

The project will target 14 poles of development and aims to raise short-term agricultural production of vulnerable households affected by the crisis and support the peace process by covering the agricultural reintegration component of DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration).

The process of preparing the project document was interactive with the involvement of the Delegation of the European Commission in CAR and in close consultation with the National Party, the Ministry of Rural Development and Agriculture.

Contact KwamiDzifanu.NyarkoBadohu@fao.org for more information.

Download the full news bulletin 125 (12 - 19 Oct 2009)
News Bulletin 125 - English (PDF) - 112 kB
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For more information, please contact:

UN OCHA CAR | Gisele Willybiro-Maïdou | willybiro@un.org | +236 70 18 80 61
UNDP CAR | Tino Kreutzer | tino.kreutzer@undp.org | +236 75 57 50 34

Highlights

• Baba Laddé, Chadian leader of the rebel group FRP, expelled by the government
• Abdoulaye Miskine of FDPC denounces 2007 peace agreements
• Arrival of new NGO Community Humanitarian Emergency Board (COHEB)
• Establishment of a multifunctional platform (PFMF) in Paoua
• Sahle-Work Zewde, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations (SRSG), visited Birao

Background and security

Expulsion of RPF rebel leader Baba Laddé
On October 10 the Minister of Security, Immigration and Public Order, General Bernard Ouandé, has signed a decree expelling the Chadian rebel leader of the Front Populaire pour le Redressement (FRP), Baba Laddé, from the territory of the Central African Republic.

The decree mentions the illegal introduction of a hundred armed men into the Central African Republic, who took the local population of Gundava (near Kaga Bandoro. in the north-western CAR) hostage.

The decree also denounced the attack on the Chadian garrison in Sido that was carried out from the territory of the Central African Republic by Baba Laddé’s men on October 3, 2009.

In September, State Minister, Cyriaque Gonda had welcomed Baba Laddé into the program of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), upon which Laddé had announced the withdrawal of his troops from Gundava.

 
FDPC denounced the peace agreements
According to a government press release issued October 6, the Front Démocratique du Peuple Centrafricain (FDPC) will continue to contribute to the CAR’s chronic instability.

The press release was issued following the denouncement by FDPC leader Abdoulaye Miskine of all peace agreements made with the government since 2007.

The statement also indicates that the government would take all measures necessary to prevent any destabilization of the CAR.

Active in the Kabo region (northwestern CAR) since 2005, the FDPC had signed a peace agreement with the CAR government in Sirte, Libya on February 2, 2008. The agreement stipulates to provide for the immediate cessation of hostilities and the demobilization of rebels.
 

News

The NGO COHEB in CAR
Community Humanitarian Emergency Board (COHEB) is a humanitarian organization with headquarters located in Yaounde, Cameroon. It is composed of 1,327 humanitarian actors.

COHEB’s goal is to improve the living standards of displaced persons, refugees and orphans. COHEB also works for communities affected by natural disasters, armed conflicts, political crises, providing a wide range of support to the victims of humanitarian crises.

In Cameroon, the organization operates in areas such as health, nutrition, food security, water and sanitation, and community development.

The 60,000 Central African refugees present in eastern Cameroon led COHEB to extend its humanitarian activities in CAR in June and will focus most of its activities in the south-west of CAR.

Since September 20, the NGO, together with a group of experts, has completed its assessment of the south-west and will soon make the official opening of its office in Bangui.

On October 7 and 9, the NGO provided training on the minimum initial service package for reproductive health.

From October 12 to 29, another course will be aimed at capacity building for citizens wishing to join the organization.

Contact christy_bilo@yahoo.fr for more information.

 
First multifunctional platform in Paoua
As part of its multi-donor program which aims at recovering the agropastoral sector in Ouham Pendé prefecture (northern CAR), the Danish Council for Refugees (DRC) supported the establishment of a multifunctional platform (MFP) in Paoua, a first in CAR. This initiative aims, using a pilot community approach, to provide an energy source (generator) that supplies supplying various kinds of production equipment, such as mills, crushers, peelers, welding stations, etc.

The multi donor program includes the European Union, the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF), the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Peacebuilding Fund, and the United Nations Development Programme.

The MFP is managed through a strategic, technical and organizational plan by the Union of Women of MFP Paoua (12 groups of about 350 women in total) who have committed and provided more than 1,500 USD as equity to the MFP for this purpose.

This initiative will promote several agricultural products (flour, oil, pasta, rice) and provide specific services such as welding, lighting, battery charging, and water pumps in a sustainable manner.

Based on the experiences of MFP in West Africa, this program is hoped to improve the living conditions of people, especially women, by providing a source of energy and ways to increase the value of products, and to reduce the burden of their work.

These women will be able to spend more time on other activities aimed at their self-promotion, such as literacy, education, and awareness on human rights, among others.

The MFP thus represents an important tool for community development, especially marginalized and underdeveloped areas.

Contact drccar@drc.dk for more information.
 
Download the full news bulletin 124 (28 Sept - 12 Oct 2009)
News Bulletin 124 - English (PDF) - 70 kB
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For more information, please contact:
UN OCHA CAR | Gisele Willybiro-Maïdou | willybiro@un.org | +236 70 18 80 61
UNDP CAR | Tino Kreutzer | tino.kreutzer@undp.org | +236 75 57 50 34

The MFP is managed through a strategic, technical and organizational plan by the Union of Women of MFP Paoua (12 groups of about 350 women in total) who have committed and provided more than 1,500 USD as equity to the MFP for this purpose.

This initiative will promote several agricultural products (flour, oil, pasta, rice) and provide specific services such as welding, lighting, battery charging, and water pumps in a sustainable manner.

Based on the experiences of MFP in West Africa, this program is hoped to improve the living conditions of people, especially women, by providing a source of energy and ways to increase the value of products, and to reduce the burden of their work.

These women will be able to spend more time on other activities aimed at their self-promotion, such as literacy, education, and awareness on human rights, among others.

The MFP thus represents an important tool for community development, especially marginalized and underdeveloped areas.

Contact drccar@drc.dk for more information.

Download the full news bulletin 124 (29 Sept - 12 Oct 2009)
News Bulletin 124 - English (PDF) - 70 kB
News Bulletin 124 - Français (PDF) - 70 kB

For more information, please contact:
UN OCHA CAR | Gisele Willybiro-Maïdou | willybiro@un.org | +236 70 18 80 61
UNDP CAR | Tino Kreutzer | tino.kreutzer@undp.org | +236 75 57 50 34

The issues discussed with these actors were humanitarian work, respect for human rights, and the conciliation of inter-ethnic conflict.

In this regard, Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde met with the Goula, Kara, Haousa, Sara, and Rounga communities.

Download the full news bulletin 124 (29 Sept - 12 Oct 2009)

News Bulletin 124 - English (PDF) - 70 kB
News Bulletin 124 - Français (PDF) - 70 kB

For more information, please contact:

UN OCHA CAR | Gisele Willybiro-Maïdou | willybiro@un.org | +236 70 18 80 61

UNDP CAR | Tino Kreutzer | tino.kreutzer@undp.org | +236 75 57 50 34

Highlights

• The NGO Coopi was attacked by LRA gunmen in Obo prefecture (south-eastern CAR)
• FPR forces withdraw from Nana-Gribizi prefecture, destination unknown
• New documentary film about orphans funded by French Development Agency (AFD), highlighting difficult conditions and numerous challenges
• Workshop on the humanitarian strategy in 2010 to formulate the Coordinated Appeals Process (CAP) for humanitarian projects in 2010, including around 70 participants

Background and security

Coopi truck attacked in Haut-Mbomou

On September 21, a truck of the Italian NGO COOPI carrying construction equipment has been attacked in the town of Kadjema between Mboki and Obo in the southeast of the CAR. According to Coopi’s press release, the perpetrators of this attack were armed elements of the Ugandan rebel group the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

Out of eight people in the vehicle, three were killed, two wounded, while three remained missing. The injured were evacuated to Bangui on September 23rd by United Nations Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS) in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for medical care. The truck was burned and had been looted by the assailants.

Following the incident, Coopi evacuated its staff in Obo, while the NGO ACTED, also present in Haut-Mbomou, has suspended its activities in the region for the time being.

The United Nations have decided to refrain from any movement in the region until further notice.

Withdrawal of FPR elements in Nana Gribizi

In a press release issued September 25, General Baba Ladd, president of the armed group Front Populaire pour le Redressement (FPR) has announced the withdrawal of all his staff from Gundava village in the prefecture of Nana Gribizi (northwestern CAR) .

This withdrawal, he said, will enable the smooth running of the program of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) in progress. No indication was given by the general regarding the future location for his troops, estimated at about 600 men.

News

National strategy for inclusive finance in CAR

On 3 September Albert Besse, the Minister of Finance and Budget, chaired the workshop on the validation of the national strategy of inclusive finance for the period 2010-2014 in the Central African Republic.

Co-funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the project aims to endow a national policy for the development of the microfinance sector.

“This endorsement workshop offers an opportunity for representatives of several national entities, particularly those involved in microfinance, to discuss the various aspects of this document, to make amendments, and proposals likely to rise up to the many challenges in the microfinance sector in CAR,” said the Minister of Finance and Budget.

At the launch of the operational activities of the inclusive financial sector in 2008, the CAR government has reaffirmed its commitment to make microfinance one of its prime means to reducing poverty.

“This document, which is subject to the endorsement by actors in microfinance, reflects the commitment of UNDP and UNCDF to help professionalize the field of microfinance and the development of financial services benefiting low-income populations,” said UNDP Country Director, Ms. Anne-Marie Cluckers.

From EUFOR to MINURCAT

On January 14, 2009, the Security Council adopted UN resolution 1861, which authorizes a military force to succeed the European Force (EUFOR) as of March 15, 2009. This force is the UN Mission in CAR and Chad (MINURCAT).

The 1,650 French soldiers who served EUFOR were gradually disengaged following the arrival of foreign UN troops.

The latest French contingents of approximately 300 soldiers now serving under the UN flag are grouped within a logistics detachment (DETLOG) stationed in Abeche (Chad) and a support detachment (DETSOUT) based in Birao, in northeastern CAR.

Interactive Radio for Justice

Interactive Radio for Justice (Radio Interactive Pour la Justice, RIJ) is a project designed to encourage dialogue between citizens, as well as national and international authorities in countries where the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates the most serious crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

The RIJ project was started in the Central African Republic in January 2008. The project is currently ongoing and will work with community radio stations throughout the country to provide people with the opportunity to present their concerns to authorities.

For more information, visit www.irfj.org

Documentary film: “Helping the Orphans”

Under the agreement between the NGO Santé Sud and the Ministry of Social Affairs, National Solidarity and Family, a film, “Helping the Orphans” (”Agir pour les orphelins”), funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) has just been completed.

The goal of this film was to confront the testimony of all persons working for orphans and vulnerable children by giving them a voice.

Different areas of interventions are discussed such as health, education, the legal aspect, and the social side. Families hosting orphans talked about the challenges experienced daily in taking care of these children.

Field workers shed light on the actions and policy options for these families. Politicians speak of what has been implemented and what remains to be done in this area.

The testimonies collected so far aim primarily to identify and record all actors helping these vulnerable populations, but also to find out the exact number of children involved. Currently, each entity has established working methods that require specific coordination and joint action.

This film aims to raise questions and bring the entire population, field workers, and politician to assess the work that remains to be done.

Moreover, it also hopes to raise awareness among potential donors, informing them of the difficulties encountered by the organizations helping these children.

For more information: gestionsantesudrca@yahoo.fr

New WFP project: PRRO

On 4 September the Minister of Planning, the Economy and International Cooperation organized a workshop on the new project of the World Food Program (WFP), by the name Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO), Assistance to populations affected by armed conflict in CAR and the sub-region.

Representatives of various ministries, foreign representatives, the UN agencies, as well as national and international NGOs attended the workshop.

The WFP has outlined the proposed project and hopes for further consultations with stakeholders throughout September.

PRRO intends to save the lives of people affected by conflict, improve their nutrition and food security, promote post-conflict rehabilitation, and conduct capacity building.

The project will begin next year and will end in December 2011.

For more information: yasuhiro.tsumura@wfp.org

Inter-Agency Mission in Haut-Mbomou

From August 19 to September 2, a United Nations inter-agency mission visited Haut-Mbomou in south-eastern CAR. The mission was composed of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), UNDSS, WFP, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Office in CAR (BONUCA), the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

While assessing the needs of the population, the mission has distributed food and non-food items to refugees, displaced persons and other victims in Mboki and Obo after they were registered by UNHCR, the National Committee for Refugees (CNR) and BONUCA.

The mission report states the following:

• Security Matters

The security situation in Haut-Mbomou is marked by the presence of and attacks by LRA rebels. On August 28, the villages of Ngula, Ngoundi, Maboussou and Nguilinguili were attacked by several small groups. LRA rebels have abducted, killed, and raped civilians, and have plundered and destroyed the agricultural production in the area, forcing the villagers to take refuge in surrounding communities.

• Protection

Summary executions and kidnappings, including of children under the age of 18, were committed by LRA rebels. The attacks on villages and the destruction and looting of property are common around Obo. On August 19, 2009, three merchants from Mboki were executed by the LRA around the town of Ligoua after 10 days of captivity. On August 28, 2009, the towns of Ngouli and Ngondi were simultaneously attacked by two groups of armed men belonging to the LRA.

• Food Situation

Food is scarce in the markets in this region. The farmers cannot access their fields for fear of being caught by the LRA. Most crops were looted by the LRA or rot in the fields. The risk of a food shortage is anticipated, as many farmers said they had lost their crops this year.

• Health

Health facilities lack trained staff, drugs, materials, and equipment. The population has no access to care because of its low income, and thus can afford neither consultations nor medical care.

• Water & Sanitation

Lack of drinking water is one of the major problems facing refugees and displaced people in the region. In Mboki, refugees settled in the local school drink water from a small soiled creek. The refugees have no access to wells of the city because they do not have the 100 francs CFA (~ $0.22) asked from each family to be able to access the water pump.

• Education

The rapid influx of local as well as Congolese refugee schoolchildren in Mboki and in Obo have led to a precarious situation of the educational sector in the region. There is a lack of infrastructure, teachers, school supplies, and teaching materials.

The mission’s recommendations:

1.Negotiations should be undertaken with government to strengthen the presence of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) so they can protect communities against attacks by the LRA in the Haut-Mbomou. (BONUCA)

2.Provide spare parts for the repair of wells and pumps in the town of Obo and Mboki to cover the contributions of refugees who take to the water pump. (UNICEF and / or the International Committee of the Red Cross)

3.Improve the capacity of health posts in Obo and Mboki with regard to training nursing personnel, as well as providing drugs and equipment to meet the health needs of refugees, IDPs and host populations. (UNHCR and WHO)

4.Improve the capacity of schools in the region so they can support local as well as refugee and displaced schoolchildren. (UNICEF)

5.Provide assistance to nearly 6,000 vulnerable people in Haut-Mbomou to cover their nutritional needs for a period of two months following August distribution. (WFP)

Coordination

CAP 2010 workshop in Bangui

The workshop on the humanitarian strategy in 2010 to formulate the Coordinated Appeals Process (CAP) was held on September 17 and 18 in Bangui.

The meeting brought together some 70 participants from UN agencies, local and international NGOs, the CAR government (Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Social Affairs) and donors such as the United States and the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO).

Participants discussed the current situation in CAR, scenarios for 2010, strategic objectives for humanitarian action next year, as well as criteria for the inclusion and prioritization of projects for the 2010 CAP.

The CAP workshop was organized by OCHA.

Download

News Bulletin 123 - English (PDF) - 300 kB
News Bulletin 123 - Français (PDF) - 300 kB

For more information, please contact:

UN OCHA CAR | Gisele Willybiro-Maïdou | willybiro@un.org | +236 70 18 80 61

UNDP CAR | Tino Kreutzer | tino.kreutzer@undp.org | +236 75 57 50 34

The amount forgiven by these governments equals 6% of the Central African Republic’s total external debt.

The debt forgiveness by the group of ‘Paris Club’ member countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States) followed numerous consultations with the CAR government, making it an anticipated announcement after the successful HIPC completion point. Other governments and lender organizations are expected to announce similar debt forgiveness agreements in the following months.

The CAR owes a total USD 856.6 million to creditors in net present value, according to the International Monetary Fund. The IMF says it had received “satisfactory assurances” from creditors representing 82% of all HIPC-eligible debt to participate in the debt forgiveness scheme, while more governments are expected to participate in the future.

Although the large amount written off by creditors equals a significant financial and political relief for the Central African Republic, the country has only been able to repay a limited amount of debt in past years. According to the 2008 budget, USD 50.1 million were planned to be repaid in the previous year to donor countries and organizations, though only a fraction of the amount due could be serviced.

The CAR government has pledged to use the freed resources to finance activities highlighted in its current Poverty Reduction Strategy. In addition, according to UN officials, the freed resources have already enabled the administration to pay some of the arrears of civil servant salaries.

As another, possibly more important effect of this collective decision as well as the HIPC completion point, the Central African Republic is subsequently able to receive fresh loans for large long-term investments in its infrastructure.

Assessing the total amount owed and the share eligible for debt relief is a highly technical matter, causing multiple conflicting numbers to be used in different contexts. When counting the original or nominal value of loans, including bilateral, multilateral, and commercial debt of the CAR government, the total amounts to USD 1,086 million. In today’s terms (net present value), and after a series of structural adjustments and traditional debt relief, this amounts to USD 856.6 million.
63% of the CAR’s debt (USD 537 million) is owed to multilateral creditors, notably the World Bank’s International Development Agency and the International Monetary Fund. 32% (USD 276 million) were owed to individual governments (including the now canceled debt to Paris Club members), while the rest (USD 44 million) are outstanding payments to private businesses and lenders.

Among the largest bilateral creditors are Taiwan (USD 94 million), Argentina (USD 34 million), China (USD 25 million), former Serbia and Montenegro (USD 21 million), and Kuwait (USD 19 million).
The delegation of the Central African Republic at the Paris Club meeting was headed by Mr Abdalla-Kadre Assane, Delegate Minister for Finance and Budget in charge of Fiscal Revenue Mobilization.

CAR’s largest creditors (selection):

(adapted from IMF, June 2009, p45.)

More information:

Paris Club (press release)

Central African Republic: Enhanced Initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries—Completion Point Document and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (PDF | 1MB)

Here is the summary of activities and events in August 2009:

• Preliminary assessments conducted in Mambéré Kadei, Sangha Mbaéré and Lobaye by MSF Spain/Belgium, MSF France and ACF revealed that 16% of children aged under 5 are acutely malnourished and 6.6% are severely acutely malnourished. UNICEF is appealing to donors for $1.5 million for lifesaving therapeutic foods, drugs and other supplies; to conduct a national nutritional survey; and train community health workers in early detection of children and women whose nutritional status is compromised.
• 6 schools rehabilitated by ACTED were inaugurated in the presence of the Minister of Education in 3 prefectures of the country: Ouham, Nana Gribizi and Bamingui Bangoran. These schools will allow 1,350 children to learn in better conditions in the upcoming new school year 2009-2010.
• Mid-Year Annual Work Plan (AWP) reviews were organised by the programme sections and sub-offices to compare the activities so far implemented to those initially planned. The AWP was revised to better reflect reality for the rest of the year.
• UNICEF provided financial support to organise training to strengthen the capacity of the school directors, teachers and parents. 130 school directors from Ouham Pendé and 59 from Bamingui Bangoran received training in school management and legislation; 274 parent-teachers from Ouham, 104 from Haute-Kotto, 90 from Bamingui Bangoran and 130 from Kémo were trained on their teaching skills; and 220 members of the PTA of Bossangoa and Bouca were trained on the role of the PTA.
• 101 children (94 boys, 17 girls) associated with armed groups who were released in July were reunified with their families and relatives. To date, UNICEF partners DRC and IRC have supported the reunification and community reintegration of a total number of 361 children (310 boys, 51 girls) formerly associated with the APRD since the child DDR programme began in May 2009.
• The preparatory work for the water and sanitation sector Round Table continued, with the opening of the website at http://tableronde-eau.minplan-rca.org/home and relevant documents uploaded on the site. The round table will be held in Bangui on 8 October 2009.

Click here to download the report

For more information on UNICEF’s activities in the Central African Republic contact:
Hyewon Lee | Reports Officer | UNICEF CAR
Email: hlee@unicef.org | Tel. +236 75 70 63 90

• Humanitarian evaluation and response mission in Mboki/Obo
• DDR caravan in Bangui for awareness-raising campaign
• Arrival of UNDP country director

Background and security

Humanitarian evaluation mission in the far east
Following a recent spate of attacks by elements of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), both in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in several villages in the far east of the Central African Republic, including looting, abduction and killings, a joint mission comprising UN agencies and international and national NGOs left Bangui on Wednesday 19 August bound for Mboki and Obo.

The aim of the mission is both to evaluate current unmet needs and to deliver humanitarian aid to vulnerable people.

At the moment, the mission is in Mboki, 75km south of Obo. Initial analysis of the current situation concerning the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees present suggest a greater number than expected, and refugees continue to arrive.

A team from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also left Bangui on 21 August bound for the far east.

On 17 August, a few days previously, inhabitants of Gougbéré, 8km from Obo, spotted an LRA scout in the vicinity and called the Ugandan army contingent based in Obo to patrol the area. The scout was subsequently arrested and remains in detention.
Some inhabitants of Central African villages suffering from LRA attacks are believed to have fled to South Sudan.

For more information: Alexis Mbolinani, JUPEDEC| (236) 70 40 70 42| mbolinani@yahoo.fr

Awareness-raising caravan for DDR in Bangui
On Saturday 22 August a caravan took to the streets of the capital to raise awareness and provide information on the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) campaign, officially launched by the government on 13 August.

According to participants, the aim of the caravan is to explain the why and how of the DDR process to both ex-combattants and the general population of Bangui.

Organised by the Ministry of Communication and National Reconciliation, the caravan included banners throughout the city, and distributed T-shirts.

Current events

World Humanitarian Day celebrated in CAR
The inaugural World Humanitarian Day was celebrated on Wednesday 19 August in the capital, with a ceremony and an exhibition of UN agencies and national and international NGOs showcasing the various humanitarian activities currently being carried out in the country.

«Head of OCHA’s Paoua sub-office giving blood»

Coordinated by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the celebration was attended by the Central African Prime Minister, Faustin Archange Touadera, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms Sahle-Work Zewde and the interim Humanitarian Coordinatior, Ms Sitta Kai-Kai.

The day was an occasion for the general public to discover more about humanitarian work in different sectors, understand what projects are being carried out, how they are organised and financed, and how they benefit the population.

During the exhibition, films were shown highlighting the humanitarian situation in the north-west and the recent visit by the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Ms Catherine Bragg, allowing the people of Bangui to better understand the situation of IDPs and people living in vulnerable regions across the north.

In Paoua, in the north-west of the country, the local authorities joined the humanitarian communities in celebrating the day with various activities including donation of blood by staff and authorities to help the regional hospital in Paoua, managed by the French division of Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF).

The aim of the blood drive is to help save lives in this area of the country which has seen years of military-political crises. The hospital currently has a severe shortage of blood, with 140 bags required for the paediatric ward alone. Needs are particularly high during the rainy season running from June to October, due to the elevated incidences of malaria with anemia.

For more information: Nick Imboden, OCHA| (236) 75 54 63 55| imboden@un.org

Visit of sites rehabilitated by the SSR programme
On Saturday 23 August, a delegation accompanied by members of the press and led by the Minister for Public Security Jules-Bernard Ouandé visited a number of different institutions in Bangui being rehabilitated as part of the CAR Security Sector Reform (SSR) programme.

The various institutions include the police stations of the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 8th districts, the Central African Anti-Drugs Office (OCLAD), the Central African Office for the Repression of Banditry (OCRB) and the Directorate of the Judiciary Police (DSPJ).

The visit concluded with a demonstration of the new patrol boat with room for up to 30 men, which will allow the police to make surveillance patrols along the Oubangui river, forming the border with neighbouring DRC.

According to the Minister, the visit highlighted both how much had already been completed, and how much there remained to do.

The SSR programme also includes, amongst other activities, the rehabilitation of prisons in major towns in other regions, and the establishment of separate prisons for women.

Coordination

Arrival of the new UNDP country director in CAR
On Monday 24 August, the recently arrived country director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ms Anne-Marie Cluckers, met with her staff. Her arrival follows the departure of the previous country director late last year.

Of Belgian nationality, Ms Cluckers started her work with the UN in Tunisia more than 24 years ago. Most recently, she served as UNDP country director in Haiti under the framework of the United Nations Mission for the Stabilisation of Haiti (MINUSTAH), an integrated mission led by the UN’s Department of Peace-keeping Operations.

For more information: Christian Aimé Ndotah, UNDP| (236) 75 50 55 45 | christian.ndotah@undp.org

Humanitarian response of Shelter and NFIs cluster
The Shelter and NFIs cluster presented their activities to the humanitarian community on Thursday 20 August. Members of the cluster include UN agencies and the NGOs ACF, AMI, Caritas, COOPI, CREPA, CARC, IMC, IPHD, IRC, Mentor Initiative, Mercy Corps, NRC, Première Urgence, Solidarités and Triangle GH, with the ICRC and MSF branches as observers.

The cluster identifies appropriate indicators, develops methods for data collection, standardises the Shelter/NFIs kit used in CAR and the humanitarian assistance. Interventions are conducted throughout vulnerable regions with current particular emphasis on the north-east and the far east (the region around Obo).

Currently, contingency stocks sufficient for 37,500 people have been prepositioned in the towns of Bocaranga, Paoua and Bossangoa in the north-west, Kabo and Batangafo in the north, and Birao and Sam-Ouandja in the north-east.

During the period December 2008 to May 2009, the cluster has delivered NFIs to 67,599 vulnerable people. UNICEF has delivered 59,740 kits, UNHCR 4,575 and Triangle GH 3,244.

However, the cluster suffers both from under-funding and severe difficulties in reaching conflict-affected populations due to the extremely poor road infrastructure made worse by the rainy season.

For more information: Ibrahim Shire, UNICEF| (236) 75 57 72 72 | iashire@unicef.org

Contact Us :
Boris NGOUAGOUNI | (236) 70 18 80 61 | ngouagouni@un.org

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• 1,207 refugees and 2,725 displaced in the far east
• Gabonese contingent of MICOPAX in Paoua
• Precarious humanitarian situation of IDPs in the Kabo region

Background and security

1,207 refugees and 2,725 displaced in the far east
As a result of attacks of fighters of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) on the villages of Gassimbala (15 km east of Obo) and Koubou (10 km east of Obo), the majority of the villages’ inhabitants have fled to Obo town fearing the violence of the attacks.

According to a survey conducted on 17 August by members of the NGO United Youth for the Protection of the Environment and Community Development (JUPEDEC), 225 people have arrived from Gassimbala and 281 people from Koubou.

Three of the people (two men and a woman) captured by the LRA during the previous attacks on Gougbere in order to help carry their loot, were set free by their captors on 15 August at Kerre 2 as they moved north-west. Other abducted people remain in the hands of the LRA, including two girls of 13 and 14 years of age who were captured in Gougbere in an attack which cost the life of one villager.

According to JUPEDEC, there are now 1,207 refugees from DRC in CAR (849 in Mboki and 358 in Obo) fleeing LRA attacks south of the border, and a total of 2,725 IDPs from the villages of Gassimbala, Koubou, Ligoua, Gougbere, Dindiri, Kamou and Ndigba who have all fled LRA attacks.

A joint mission of UN agencies and international NGOs left Bangui on Wednesday 19 August bound for Obo.

The aim of this mission is to bring humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people and assess currently.

For more information: Alexis Mbolinani, JUPEDEC| (236) 70 40 70 42| mbolinani@yahoo.fr and Joseph Benamse, OCHA| (236) 70 98 82 34| benamse@un.org

Gabonese MICOPAX contingent in Paoua
On Monday August the new commander of the Peace-building Mission in CAR (MICOPAX), General Hector Marie Tchemo, took command in a ceremony led by President François Bozizé.

During the ceremony, the President reaffirmed the importance of MICOPAX to the current peace process.

The Gabonese contingent is starting its deployment in CAR in Paoua, in the north-west.

Current events

13 August: DDR programme officially launched
“The Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reinsertion (DDR) programme begins today”, the Central African President François Bozizé announced on 13 August in Paoua in the north-west during the celebrations for the 49th anniversary of CAR independence.

The ceremony was attended by Jean-Jacques Démafouth, first vice-president of the DDR steering committee and president of the Popular Army for the Restauration of Democracy (APRD), one of the major armed groups controlling most of Ouham-Pendé prefecture in CAR’s north-west.

According to the Minister of Communication, Cyriaque Gonda, the first phase of the programme involves an information and awareness-raising campaign and will last from 13 August to 13 September. The second phase, identification of the ex-rebel combatants, will follow thereafter.

The Minister continued by saying that the DDR process will be implemented in five prefectures, across the north, notably Ouham Pendé, Ouham, Nana-Gribizi, Haute Kotto and the Vakaga. It will involve between 6,000 and 10,000 ex-combatants, and the process is expected to last for 36 months.

Human rights training for heads of orphanages
“Closer understanding of the needs of orphans” is the central theme of a training event which started on 17 August for about 40 teachers and heads of orphanages in the city of Bangui. The training, organised by the NGO Christian Action for Compassion (ACC) in partnership with the UN Peace-building office in CAR (BONUCA) aims to reinforce the capacities of these leaders following a participatory approach.

It also aims to educate the participants on the basic principles of human rights.

The ACC president, Ms Boubandé, said, “given the current context of repeated armed conflicts in certain regions of the country, we think that it is urgent to launch a large-scale awareness-building campaign for our leaders, in order to equip them with sufficient knowledge of human rights as well as to fight against all forms of violence and violation of these rights.”
She continued by saying that the training would help to return hope to vulnerable orphans, children and women.

Humanitarian activities

Promoting respect for women’s rights
As part of a project to improve the promotion of, and respect for, women’s rights financed by the Peace-Building Fund, three months of training activities on women’s rights started in June in the town of Paoua. The training sessions are organised by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and delivered by the Association of Women Layers of CAR (AFJC). They are targeted at more than 2,000 members of various organisations currently supported by DRC, including organisations involved in revenue generation, agriculture and animal husbandry in the Paoua region.

«Trainers and participants during a training session»

Amongst the elements discussed during these sessions are human rights, the rights of displaced people, women’s rights and the laws which protect women against violence in CAR.

The trainings use a strongly participative approach with plenty of exercises. At their end, a legal clinic will be set up with paralegals who can give information, support and advice to the local population as part of the campaign against all forms of violence.

At the end of the training activities in September, another similar programme will be launched in the region of Ndélé, in Bamingui-Bangoran prefecture towards the north-east of the country. This will target more than 1,000 women in organisations supported by DRC in that area, and also aims to set up a legal clinic at its end.

For more information: Pascale Meric, DRC| (236) 72 71 90 06 | pascale.meric@drc.dk

Precarious humanitarian situation of IDPs in the Kabo region
A joint mission of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) was carried out from 9 to 12 August in the Kabo region, Ouham prefecture in the north of the country. The aim of the mission was to evaluate current needs in order to plan a humanitarian response.
In the displaced communities from the village of Bokayanga (currently living in a camp 7km away from their village in the bush) and from Kengar (18km north of Kabo), as well amongst other IDP locations in the area, people confirmed an improvement in the security situation following the signature of a peace agreement between the government and the Democratic Central African People’s Front (FDPC).
From the humanitarian standpoint, access to clean water and sanitation remains severely restricted, and there are several reported cases of illnesses and deaths caused by drinking unclean water. The displaced communities expressed requirements in food security, education and health in particular.

«Children in the site for people displaced from Bokayanga»

For more information: Sylvain Yakara, OCHA | (236) 72 71 55 49 | yakara@un.org

Contact Us :
Boris NGOUAGOUNI | (236) 70 18 80 61 | ngouagouni@un.org

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The first World Humanitarian Day was celebrated in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR) on 19 August with a ceremony and exhibition of humanitarian work attended by the Prime Minister of CAR and members of the government, the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) of the United Nations, diplomats and many members of the humanitarian community.

Six years ago, a truck-bomb exploded in Baghdad killing twenty-two people, including UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and one of the world’s great humanitarians, Sergio Vieira de Mello. Worldwide, more than 700 humanitarian workers have lost their lives in the past decade.

In CAR, a nurse working for an international NGO was shot and killed in 2007. SRSG Sahle-Work Zewde stated, “This year alone, humanitarian workers have been subjected to ambushes and armed robbery by bandits who threatened to execute them and left them stranded in the bush. They have been taken hostage by people who seek ransom, or who question their impartiality. But they are still here, and they deserve our praise and solidarity.” The occasion was marked by a minute of silence to remember the sacrifices which people all over the world have made to bring assistance to others.

Fragile progress

The Central African Republic is one of the world’s poorest countries, currently ranking second from bottom (178th of 179) on the Humanitarian Development Index. It has suffered from insecurity and violence across the north for half a decade, causing over 100,000 refugees to flee the country and a similar number to hide in the bush, too afraid to return home.

Since 2007, the international community has become increasingly aware of what was previously an all but forgotten conflict, causing humanitarian aid to increase from $10 million in 2005 to more than $100 million in 2008. It currently accounts for more than 30% of total overseas assistance to the country, and has proven particularly effective in targeting fragile zones across the north where development aid is slowest to arrive.

Resurgent crisis

Despite this, the situation remains precarious. Humanitarian funding to date in 2009 has fallen significantly. The UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund contributed $2.8 million recently, recognising it as an underfunded emergency. Even so, over $40 million of humanitarian needs cited in the country’s Coordinated Aid Programme (CAP) remain unmet.

Although there have been some signs of improvement in the political situation during this year, with the government signing peace agreements with rebel groups and forming an inclusive government, new humanitarian crises are emerging.

• In the north-east, increasing ethnic tensions have caused a sharp rise in clashes between civilians, with people killed, houses burnt and many families abandoning their homes.
• In the isolated far south-east, 1000km from Bangui, fighters of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) are launching regular attacks on villages, causing new displacement both in CAR and in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
• In the south-west, a previously prosperous area has seen massive decline in demand for wood and diamonds, causing widespread unemployment and sparking a health and nutrition crisis as workers are no longer able to feed their families.

Humanitarian response

Both the SRSG and the Prime Minister acknowledged these challenges. A task force led by UN agencies left today on a two week mission to Obo to distribute assistance and to evaluate humanitarian needs. Although the Humanitarian Air Service UNHAS remains constrained by lack of funding, they are exploring the feasibility of setting up regular flights to Obo from Bangui - by road the trip takes five days.

In the south-west, NGOs such as Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) and Action Contre la Faim (Action against Hunger) are already setting up emergency response programmes to cope with the rising incidence of malnutrition and disease.

Government commitment

The Prime Minister, Faustin-Archange Touadera, emphasised that the government and its ministries are working extensively in partnership with humanitarian agencies in all areas, but acknowledged that the country remains vulnerable. “We are grateful for the continued support of the humanitarian organisations working in the country, and of the donors who finance them. We share with them the reponsibility for helping people in need, and are committed to doing everything we can to facilitate their work and ensure trouble-free access.”

Humanitarian access to areas across the north has been increasingly difficult in 2009 due to bandit ambushes and continuing or newly-emerging small-scale rebellions. More worrying is that the impartiality and neutrality of aid workers has been called into question on several occasions, with suggestions that they are indirectly providing support for rebels or cooperating with government forces.

Crucial time

The government’s assurance of its commitment to humanitarian intervention comes at a crucial time for the country. Elections are planned for early next year. A programme to disarm, demobilise and reintegrate former rebel soldiers was officially launched last week. Overtures have been made to start negotiations with a remaining rebel group.

But the country remains vulnerable to crises over which it has little control - the global economic downturn, or ongoing instability in its neighbouring countries Sudan, Chad and DRC. It is difficult to predict whether the humanitarian crisis will get better or worse in 2010. With this uncertainty, a decline in humanitarian commitment to CAR at this time would be premature.

Exhibition

The day continued with an exhibition where UN humanitarian agencies, international and national humanitarian NGOs took the opportunity to explain to the invitees and to the general public about their work, how it is paid for and the challenges they face. With the country heavily dependent on aid, overcoming the lack of knowledge and understanding for humanitarian work is important to reassure people that money is well spent and contributing to their lives.

The SRSG concluded by saying, “Humanitarian workers have already shown an extraordinary commitment to this country, as they have all over the world. We are here today to express our profound appreciation and recognition of their courage and sacrifice, and our continued commitment to give them our full support.”