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Alert
Central African Republic (CAR)
Assistance Required to Support and Protect Vulnerable People in Central African Republic
Geneva, 23 May 2013
1. Brief description of the emergency and impact
The political crisis in Central African Republic has triggered a dramatic deterioration in the humanitarian situation in the country, and this is a call to the ACT Alliance members to respond to this humanitarian disaster. The entire CAR`s 4.6 million people are affected and tens of thousands of people need emergency shelter, healthcare and food aid. The breakdown of law and order has led to widespread violation of human rights including targeted killings, rapes, torture, arbitrary arrests and the recruitment of child soldiers. Since December, more than 173,000 people have been internally displaced and 49,000 people have sought asylum in neighboring countries, especially Democratic Republic of Congo.
Currently LWF Chad in partnership with UNHCR is assisting refugees from CAR in the border region inside Chad, and has also requested support from the ACT Alliance.
2. Why is an ACT response needed?
Insecurity is making it difficult for national and international organizations working inside CAR, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in CAR, to supply humanitarian aid to Central Africans in desperate need. Offices and warehouses of UN agencies and NGOs have been looted and most humanitarian operations, including ACT Alliance members working in CAR are restricted to Bangui and Yaoundé in the Cameroon. More resources are needed to address the urgent growing humanitarian need of this large population of vulnerable people.
3. National and international response
In spite of prevailing insecurity and restricted access to most parts of the country, the humanitarian community continues to provide life-saving assistance to people in need. Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) assessments have now been carried out in the Provinces of: Ombella Mpoko, Kemo, Ouham and Hautte Kotto.
Following a measles outbreak that was declared in Bangui last month, the response is targeting 150,000 children aged 6 to 59 months for a vaccination campaign scheduled from 22 to May 2013. The Food Security Cluster is preparing a rapid assessment in the northern and eastern parts of the country. There is an urgent need to advocate for and ensure safe access of the population to fields and markets. A total of 20,574 households (102,500 people) including 4,640 households from Kabo, Zemio and Bamingui will receive planting and vegetable seeds.
4. ACT Alliance response
ACT Alliance members The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), Finn Church Aid (FCA), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in CAR, and with support from other ACT Alliance members are planning a response from Bangui and Bour to support and accompany church structures inside CAR to respond to this acute humanitarian situation.
5. Planned activities
Two experienced Relief Officers from the LWF Emergency Roster will be deployed to Bangui and Bouar as soon as possible to begin supporting the aid efforts inside CAR, including, carrying out assessments of the situation on the ground, linking up with UN Coordination in Bangui, and supporting in any way possible the churches in this very difficult time. They will be supported by the FCA humanitarian Coordinator in CAR.
Contacts with UNHCR officials in Geneva and in CAR have been done, and LWF together with ACT Alliance members will aim to find ways to establish direct partnerships with UNHCR inside CAR, who have expressed interest in working with the church network.
In order to make a meaningful humanitarian assistance possible, funding is urgently needed to assist in supplying relief supplies, food/seeds and nutrition aid and the provision of critical water, sanitation and hygiene services to save lives of populations in displaced camps or in host communities inside CAR.
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) needs urgent funding so that remote areas of CAR can be reached. A preliminary appeal for CAR will be issued by the end of May as the humanitarian team reaches the country, to get a joint ACT Alliance response started. LWF is appealing for USD 100,000 to begin this first phase, which includes the deployment of two experienced emergency response staff to be based in CAR, security procedures, accommodation and transport, as well as initial fund to start up supporting lifesaving activities while a preliminary appeal is prepared.
6. Constraints
The largest constraint for LWF/ACT operation is inadequate access to the affected communities and the security situation in the country.
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Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jean-Daniel Birmele, Director of Finance (jbi@actalliance.org)
