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Alert / Update
Central African Republic
Assistance to Support & Protect War Affected Vulnerable Communities in the Central African Republic – CAF151: Extension
Geneva, 03 December 2015
1. Brief description of the emergency and impact
The situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) took a dramatic turn following the March 2013 Coup d'Etat, with the conflict escalating into unprecedented levels of violence. The events that took place in Bangui in December 2013 constituted a peak in the conflict bringing the capital in a cycle of reprisals among citizens, with violent clashes between (largely Christian) Anti-Balaka and (mainly Muslim) ex-Seleka that spread across the country. Violence in CAR has caused massive internal displacements, which has divided the country along ethno-religious lines, and had a regional impact, pushing hundreds of thousands to flee the country (to Cameroon, Chad, the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
On 26 September new upsurges of violence started to take place in the capital, Bangui, and throughout the country. Violent intercommunity clashes led to new victims but also new displacements and increased needs. After months of relative calm, the recent renewal of violence in the capital has left 79 people dead, 414 seriously injured and added 40,000 more internally displaced people (IDPs) totalling more than 399,000 who remain within the country. This renewed situation represents a big step backwards on the return plan for internally displaced persons (set-up by the Humanitarian Country Team during the past year) when a gradual return was observed during the past months.
The international community, including NGOs, were also specifically targeted and their warehouses, compounds and assets looted and vandalized. This new crisis created many more needs and has created new issues for access for humanitarian workers to the population in need because of security concerns and difficulties to ensure safe and secured access to humanitarian aid for the beneficiaries.
2. Why is an ACT response needed?
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), there remains in CAR 2.7 Million persons in need of humanitarian assistance. While the situation seemed to be improving recently, the most recent crisis has seen the humanitarian situation taking a very worrying turn to the worse with more violence, more displacements and more needs arising. Furthermore, elections are coming up in CAR to move from a transitional to an elected government. Indeed presidential elections (first round) and parliamentary elections are scheduled in December 2015 and second round of presidential elections on 31 January 2016. During this period it is generally expected that tensions will crystalize and that violence is very likely to take place again.
Many households and whole villages and communities have lost everything, suffer from trauma and do not have access to the most basic infrastructures to meet their growing needs. In a failed state like CAR, local institutions and governments have little to no resources to respond to the needs of their citizens who rely almost exclusively on international aid. With new upsurges of violence, more victims and a near future clouded by further tensions, the people of CAR, more than even, need the ACT Alliance to be present and support them.
3. National and international response
CAR is sadly becoming a forgotten crisis again with great needs but not enough funding to cover them. As of October 2015 the overall budget necessary to respond to the needs was only 46% funded, meaning that not even half of all the identified needs have been addressed. Besides, this does not include the needs for the new crisis of September/October 2015. The UN has a strong presence in CAR with OCHA coordinating humanitarian response and with a UN Peace Keeping mission (MINUSCA) present. There is also many NGOs present and coordinating their activities within the cluster system.
4. ACT Alliance response
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Finn Church Aid (FCA) are providing support to conflict-affected populations in CAR thanks to the ACT Appeal CAF151. LWF focuses on Social Cohesion, Food Security and Nutrition in the Nana Mambéré and Ouham Pendé Provinces. FCA is implementing Education and WASH activities in the Mambéré Kadéi Province, as well as in Bangui.
While this response is very necessary, the Appeal is not fully funded and pledges came rather late. This, combined with critical security issues, explain the reduced levels of implementation thus far. This is why the Appeal is being extended, until April 30th 2016 (instead of December 31st 2015).
5. Constraints
The constraints in CAR are many but most stem from the extremely insecure and volatile situation in the country. Indeed due to the deteriorating security situation in the country, the roads are not safe and travelling to implement activities or for procurement purposes can be very problematic and require intense and thorough planning.
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to the Head of Finance and Administration, Line Hempel (Line.Hempel@actalliance.org).
