Deep in the southwest of the Central African Republic, far from the violence and humanitarian crisis of the northern prefectures, lies the Dzanga-Sangha reserve. Nearly 500 kilometres (300 miles) from the capital Bangui, the reserve offers some of the most beautiful and pristine wildlife that can be found in Africa and, indeed, the world.
However, distance in this case can be deceiving; reaching Dzanga-Sangha often takes between nine to twelve hours by truck. Road conditions in the Central African Republic are challenging during the dry season, and roads frequently become impassible during the rainy season, making reaching the park difficult, and occasionally impossible. Continue Reading »
Tags: , nature, park, reserve, wildlife
Posted in Central African Republic, images, photos | 1 Comment »
Prime Minister makes emergency appeal
Bangui, Central African Republic – Faustin Touadera, Prime Minister of the Central African Republic, issued an emergency appeal for international support in the wake of a catastrophic failure of the country’s power system. After nearly 60 years of service and erratic maintenance at best, and despite offers from key donors to help over the course of the past few months, CAR’s weak electric infrastructure has taken one more step towards complete collapse. Rolling blackouts, often lasting more than 24 hours, have now plunged the capital into nearly complete darkness. Continue Reading »
Tags: , electricity, emergency appeal, Faustin Touadera, infrastructure, power, Prime Minister
Posted in Central African Republic, appeal, government, health, humanitarian crisis, infrastructure, security, water | No Comments »
Highlights
- FOMUC transforms into FOMAC on 12 July
- Humanitarian appeal for energy in Bangui
- $ 10 million from Peace Building Fund for CAR
- Safe water for over 10,000 inhabitants of Bouar
- CAP Mid-year review 2008: $ 114 million requested
Background and security
FOMUC transforms into FOMAC
The Deputy Secretary-General of the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC), Egidio De Sousa Santos from Angola, confirmed on 1 July in Kinshasa that the Multi-national Force of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (FOMUC) will transform into the Multi-national Force of the CEEAC (FOMAC) during a ceremony on 12 July in Bangui. Continue Reading »
Tags: , appeal, energy, Peace-Building
Posted in Bouar, Central African Republic, FOMAC, FOMUC, health, info bulletin, sitrep, water | No Comments »
Download the 2008 Consolidated Appeal Mid-Year Review (2.8MB) - PDF
People in the Central African Republic (CAR) have a reason to hope. The conflict between three militant groups and the government has ended, at least on paper. The army has ceased the worst forms of reprisals against civilians in the north and has, together with the police and justice system, committed to reform. An international peacekeeping force has deployed to the Vakaga region in the northeast, which shares a porous border with Darfur and eastern Chad. Tackling issues of chronic poverty and underdevelopment, the government has drawn up a long-term development plan and donors have started to re-engage, pledging US$ (1) 600million in development aid over the next three years. In the more immediate term aid agencies are reaching more people struck by conflict and violence than ever before with human rights protection, emergency assistance, and recovery programmes. Continue Reading »
Tags: , CAP, Consolidated Appeals Process, Mid-Year Review
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Highlights
- Tripartite ministerial meeting (Cameroon, Central African Republic and Chad) on cross-border insecurity in Yaoundé on 20 June
- IMF to give FCFA 5.8 billion in financial support to CAR
- Access to health restored in Ndélé
- Support to agriculture and infrastructure north of Paoua
Background and security
Cross-border insecurity on the agenda
A ministerial meeting on cross-border insecurity, jointly organized by the Governments of Cameroon, CAR and Chad was held on 20 June in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Continue Reading »
Posted in CEMAC, Central African Republic, EUFOR, IMF, MINURCAT, WHO, cameroon, health, info bulletin, security, sitrep | No Comments »
Download the 2008 Needs Analysis Framework in English (2.1 MB) - PDF
The Needs Analysis Framework analyzes the humanitarian needs in the Central African Republic, mainly of civilians living in the northern areas affected by conflict and violence. As a consequence of poverty and under-development, and aggravated by the violent conflict and banditry, urgent needs exist in all sectors. First and foremost, the humanitarian crisis in CAR is a protection and human rights crisis, with 305,000 people being forced to flee their homes. But many people also have no access to hospitals, health centres, schools, and markets, they have no drinking water and cannot work their fields, and many have no roof to protect them from the rains. Continue Reading »
Posted in NAF, UNDP, Zaraguinas, development, humanitarian crisis, poverty, rebels, refugees, sanitation, security, violence | No Comments »
Highlights
Comprehensive peace accord signed between Government, APRD and UFDR in Libreville, Gabon on 21 June- World Bank grants US$ 7.9 million to CAR
- Close to 800 displaced people in Batangafo
- Common Humanitarian Fund to start on 1 July
Background and security
Comprehensive peace accord signed
The Central African Government on 21 June signed a comprehensive peace accord with the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD), led by former defense minister Jean-Jacques Demafouth, and Zakaria Damane’s Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR). The agreement leaves the door open for the Democratic Forces for the Central African People (FDPC) of Abdoulaye Miskine, who was absent but represented, to sign on.
Continue Reading »
Tags: Amnesty, APRD, CHF, Common Humanitarian Fund, displaced people, ERF, FDPC, FIDH, François Bozizé, Gabon, HIPC, human rights, ICC, IDP, Jean-Pierre Bemba, LCDH, Medecins Sans Frontieres, MSF, NRC, OCHA, OCODEFAD, Omar Bongo, peace accord, PRSP, Radio Ndeke Luka, refugees, sexual abuse, sudan, UFDR, UNHCR, World Bank, World Refugee Day, zaranguinas
Posted in Central African Republic, info bulletin, sitrep | 1 Comment »
Highlights:
- CAR added to UN Peace-building Commission agenda on 12 June
- Organizing committee of the Inclusive Political Dialogue established on 9 June
- Update on EUFOR
- Assessment of food needs in Bamingui-Bangoran by World Food Programme
- Handover of the Molangue site for DRC refugees to Central African Government by UNHCR
Background and security
CAR on Peace-building Commission agenda
The Central African Republic (CAR) on 12 June became the fourth country to be placed on the agenda of the United Nations Peace-building Commission, which was set up to help countries emerging from conflict avoid the slide back into war or chaos. Continue Reading »
Tags: DRC, EUFOR, François Bozizé, info bulletin, Newsletter, Peace-Building, Regufees, UN Human Rights Comission, UNHCR, WFP, World Food Programme
Posted in Central African Republic, info bulletin, sitrep | No Comments »
An English-language overview of the security sector reform process in CAR is now available. Written with support from UNDP and based on government documents and the proceedings of April’s SSR seminar, Crucial steps: Security sector reform in the Central African Republic offers a summary of the current status of CAR’s security and justice services, as well as information on proposed reforms and projected implementation timelines. Continue Reading »
Posted in Central African Republic, SSR, UNDP, disarmament, security | No Comments »
An updated presentation of the general humanitarian and development situation in CAR is now available. UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Toby Lanzer presented this briefing to donors and other partners in Europe earlier this month, including at an OECD/DAC seminar, during EC consultations in Brussels and with Dutch officials in the Hague. The updated version integrates new developments in security sector reform and political dialogue, as well as other key points.
Download presentation
Posted in Central African Republic, Country Profiles, HDPT Briefing Material, appeal, conferences, data, development, donor support, facts, humanitarian crisis, sitrep | No Comments »
About 1,400 displaced people are living in the village of Kamba Kota (Ouham) in terrible health and security conditions. They fled their villages following attacks by armed bandits, who reportedly killed 37 people. The banditry victims come from Kambandja, Kassai and Kagoué II villages on the road to Ouogo to the north of Kamba Kota.
The joint mission of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the United Nations Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA) who located these displaced people expressed concern about their health and security.
At the moment, these displaced people get water from the river and eat mainly cassava leaves. Their huts are made of branches and foliage. Access to health care is made difficult by the system of cost recovery applied by the local health center (patients must pay a fee). In spite of these challenges, the displaced are planning for the future: with the help of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), they started building a school which will soon be operational. Continue Reading »
Posted in BONUCA, Central African Republic, NRC, UNHCR, Zaraguinas, bandits, displacement, humanitarian crisis, internal displacement | No Comments »
2 - 9 June 2008 - Highlights:
- Plans to sign global peace agreement with armed group in Libreville.
- Joachim Chissano, Special UN Envoy for areas affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) on a visit to Central African Republic on 4 June.
- 1,400 displaced people at Kamba Kota
- Update on Catholic Rescues Services (CRS) micro projects.
Background and security
The global peace agreement in Libreville
The Minister of Communication, Civism, Dialogue and National Reconciliation, Mr. Cyriaque Gonda, announced Saturday in Bangui that the global agreement with armed groups will be signed in mid-June in Libreville Continue Reading »
Posted in Central African Republic, info bulletin, sitrep | No Comments »
On the road to Ndélé, the Central African Republic’s (CAR) largest northern city, Kotamale is just another isolated village in the Nana Grebizi prefecture. However, Kotomale is also home to one of a few small, dilapidated bridges that span the Kodo river.
