After holding internationally recognized elections in 2005, which ended a two-year transition, and against the backdrop of a stable presidency and Government in Bangui, the northern part of the Central African Republic (CAR) again fell into political turmoil and violence in January 2006.  Violence first began in Bétoko (a large entry point for Chadian and Cameroonian goods and market), then in Paoua and again in Bétoko.

Though ties between the two rebels groups with Chad and Sudan remained unclear, it was obvious that CAR was strongly affected by regional dynamics.  Scorched earth techniques, which left villages burnt to the ground, were consistent with those seen in Darfur and Eastern Chad. 

In 2006, the future of the CAR remained uncertain.  As the political and security situation deteriorated, the CAR once again seemed to be on the verge of chaos.  Because of the politico-military situation, the humanitarian community in CAR estimated that almost one million people were affected by hostilities in the north, at least 100 villages were burnt in 2006, and over 220,000 were forced to flee their homes (150,000 internally displaced; 70,000 left the Central African Republic).

Throughout 2006, unrest escalated, leading to acute protection needs and lack of access to basic services, food insecurity, as well as a further spread of HIV/AIDS and poverty.  To meet the pressing new humanitarian needs in the north and address the issue of chronically under-funding of its projects, the Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team in CAR appealed to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to fund life-saving activities in the north-west of CAR.  This would also prevent the extension of the turmoil to the south, endangering attempts at recovery in the “non-conflict areas.”

During the reporting period, CAR received $5,693,364 of CERF funding to implement programmes in the health, food security, and protection sectors.  CERF funding contributed to better the lives of over 100,000 persons in the Central African Republic. The CERF was the biggest donor to the CAR in 2006 with a 21.3 percent allocation to the total funding received, and was instrumental to most humanitarian operations in the country.

Projects were monitored during inter-agency missions and other data collection exercises and the findings were used to provide guidance to project implementers and to redress targeting where necessary.  Monitoring and evaluation was hampered by a small presence (or no presence at all in the case of OCHA) outside the capital.

Installation of water pump in Ouham Pende, providing clean water for at least 62,00 people [Photo: UN/CAR]

CERF funding enabled UNHCR to implement a protection strategy based on the three pillars - the sensitization of key actors on IDPs’ rights, especially the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, the monitoring of the protection situation and displacement patterns, and the material and non-material assistance to victims of human rights abuses.

CERF funding made it possible for the health sector to initiate essential reproductive health activities to ensure safe and clean childbirth, the provision of contraceptives, treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), prevention of HIV, and management of sexual violence.

Having received $1,200,000 of CERF funds, WFP was able to save lives and reinforce the food security of thousands of beneficiaries, especially in the most vulnerable areas of northwest CAR.  It was possible for IDPs to eat at least two meals a day and improvements were observed in the nutritional status.  Prior to these food distributions, IDPs were consuming less than one meal per day.  Food distributions to displaced populations acted as a pull-factor because, for many displaced people, the distributions in abandoned villages were the first time they had seen each other in months.  These distributions clearly had a positive impact on the population as they saved lives and marked the resumption of daily life in their villages. 

CERF funds enabled UNICEF to fulfill its mandate as cluster lead for water and sanitation.  Water and sanitation stakeholders met several times to discuss priorities in the allocation of funds and progress of ongoing projects.  In the nutrition sector, the CERF funds gave the opportunity to foster partnerships with international NGOs working in the emergency areas.  In the area of child protection, CERF funds allowed UNICEF to disseminate and advocate at the international level CAR’s humanitarian situation and CAR’s protection crisis.

[Last Update: 21 August 2007]

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