News bulletin 79 (29 Sep - 6 Oct 2008)
Oct 9th, 2008 by Gisele Willybiro, OCHA
Highlights
- Rebels attack Am Dafok in the extreme northeast of CAR
- General Amnesty Law adopted on 29 September
- Monitoring report for the Millennium Development Goals in CAR, launched on 29 September.
Background and security
Am Dafok attacked by rebels
A rebel faction attacked the town of Am Dafok, near the Sudanese border, 70 miles east of Birao, on 29 September. The rebels looted the village while the entire population had fled into the bush at the time of the attack.
The twenty attackers, who have now left Am Dafok are suspected to be members of the Forces for the Unification of the Central African Republic (FURCA), a new rebel faction emerging from the Union of Democratic Forces for the unification (UFDR). The new rebel faction is allegedly led by Oumar Sodiam, who had refused to respect the peace agreement signed by the head of the UFDR, Damane Zakaria and President François Bozizé prior to the start of the inclusive political dialogue.
General amnesty law adopted
The National Assembly adopted the general amnesty law on 29 September, which was one of the pre-conditions for the start of the political dialogue process. The new law protects government officials and rebel movements from persecution for all crimes committed after 15 March 2003.
The former president Ange-Félix Patassé, Jean-Jacques Démafouth, coordinator of the Popular Army for Democracy (APRD) and Martin Koumtamadji alias Abdoulaye Miskine of the Democratic Forces for the Central African people (FDPC) are subject to special mention, indicating that they would be pardoned for the misuse of public funds or murder.
Current events
Nutrition and water projects in the north
The NGO, International Partnership for Human Development (IPHD) runs nutrition, water and sanitation projects in several areas affected by the conflict in CAR. In the prefectures of Ouham, Nana-Grébizi and Bamingui-Bangoran, the NGO implements programmes funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to improve the health and nutritional status of children coming from nearly 250 villages.
IPHD also runs a nutrition programme targeting the most vulnerable part of the population, with donations of concentrated soups. The initiative is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In the coming months, the NGO will also repair about 100 pumps and provide 1,000 latrines in the Bossangoa, Nana-Bakassa and Bouca sub-prefectures of Ouham.
IPHD also encourages local communities to develop their independence and improve their economic situation through the “Food for Progress” programme that has the following components: food banks, credit for farmers and fishermen and financial assistance for widows.
For more information: c.bindea@iphd-africa.org
MDG Monitoring Report for CAR
In the presence of the Central African Prime Minister, Faustin Touadéra, the monitoring report of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Central Republic was officially launched on 29 September.
The publication of the Report provides an opportunity to assess the progress achieved since the Millennium Declaration. Some advances were made in the education sector, with regard to access to safe water and the environment, but based on the current trends, none of the MDG indicators will reach the objectives set for 2015. “Our country will not reach the goals set for 2015. Let us have the courage to recognize and to realize the importance of what lies ahead. It is a challenge that each and every Central African has to face. ” said the Prime Minister.
The poverty indicator increased from 62.5% in 1992 to 67.2% in 2003. The mortality rate for children under 5 years rose from 157 per thousand in 1995 to 220 per thousand in 2003. Maternal mortality has reached a record rate of 1,335 per 100,000 births in 2003 against 683 in 1988. AIDS remains a major concern, with 6.7% prevalence rate, the highest in the sub-region. Malaria is progressing and is raging among children under 5 years.
Access the report at: www.cf.undp.org/omd_car.htm
Care of people living with HIV
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) project “Strengthening the care for people living with HIV in CAR” financed by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was scheduled to be closed on September 30. However, having a remaining balance of approximately $4 million, the project will be extended until 31 January 2009.
With regard to HIV, 16 voluntary testing centers were built, 2 in Bangui and 14 in the provinces. They all are operational. In total 91,331 people were screened, including 5,298 women, of half received help to prevent transmission of HIV to children.
Finally, 8,887 people infected with HIV are receiving anti retro viral (ARV) medication.
For more information: aboudoulaye.bagnou@undp.org
Fight against maternal and neo-natal tetanus
A mission from the Spanish national UNICEF committee represented by Sara Cortes, and the model and good will ambassador Estefania Luyke, visited Central Africa from 24 September to 2 October, to support a vaccination campaign against maternal and neo-natal tetanus led by the Ministry of Health and supported by UNICEF CAR.
The mission, went to the north-west including Kaga Bandoro where many women and children attended the vaccination.
The campaign was financed by UNICEF Spain and the Spanish company Dodot which produces diapers and whose slogan is “a package of diapers = vaccine.”
The good will ambassador, Estafania, promised that she will sensitize mothers of her country so they buy diapers for Dodot and the money from the purchase could help increase the number of tetanus vaccinations in CAR.
Maternal neonatal tetanus is one of the ten leading causes of mortality in CAR, which remains one of the highest in Africa. One of the main causes is the lack of compliance with hygiene rules by health facilities.
IFHR mission in CAR
A mission of the International Federation of the League of Human Rights (IFHR) visited Bangui from 25 September to 2 October. In fact, since 2001, IFHR has visited CAR every year and this time the mission came to evaluate the respect for human rights in the context of the peace agreements, the amnesty law and the future political dialogue.
Following different talks with judicial authorities, representatives of civil society, and victims of conflicts in CAR, IFHR noted some motivation for the respect of human rights in the peace agreement, the amnesty and the upcoming dialogue. However, the organisation remains doubtful about the full respect for victims’ rights in CAR.
Also, the IFHR expressed its doubts about the exclusion of international crimes in the new amnesty law. The IFHR was mainly concerned because international crimes are not included in the Central African Penal Code and the Code of Military Justice, which would give no opportunity for judges to try the perpetrators of these crimes following the provision of these codes.
Finally, the Federation said that the Central African justice system lacks the capacity to investigate serious violations of human rights, citing the lack of judicial authorities and political authorities to judge those crimes.
Coordination
News
Jean-Nicolas Marti left the position of Head of Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). He is replaced by Max Ashmore. Contacts: bangui.bng@icrc.org | 75 20 28 58
Contact us: UN OCHA Bangui, CAR
Nancy Snauwaert | snauwaert@un.org | +236 75 54 22 78
Gisèle Willybiro | willybiro@un.org | +236 75 54 90 31
