CERF allocates $3 million to aid refugees in CAR

An IDP child in CAR [Photo: UNHCR]

20 April 2010: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will receive over $3.1 million from CERF to provide multi-sector life-saving assistance and to ensure the quick establishment and management of the new camps for 18,500 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The humanitarian situation in CAR has seen a marked deterioration in 2009 with a resurgence of conflicts in the north and incursions of the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in the South-East. Increasing insecurity has caused new internal displacements and increased the vulnerability of the local population. The number of IDPs is now estimated at 162,000 and some 31,000 refugees from Sudan and the DRC have settled in the eastern and southern provinces. An estimated 73,000 of the IDP caseload are trying to return but without conditions for basic durable solutions. In addition, there are 137,000 Central African refugees in Cameroon and southern Chad.

Humanitarian aid organisations faced a steady erosion of the humanitarian space in key areas of operation as a result of logistic constraints, criminality, insecurity leading to violent conflict, and political instability. Despite the substantial presence of aid agencies, there has been very limited expansion of humanitarian activities due to the lack of funding. In this regard, effective and strategic response to humanitarian needs is very important.

[Last Update: 28 April 2010]

CERF allocates over $3 million for people affected by the conflict in CAR

14 October 2010: CERF allocates over $3 million to benefit some 500,000 people affected by the ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR).

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will receive $1.3 million for education projects and for the protection of children affected by armed conflict.  The World Health Organization (WHO) has been allocated $1.1 million to strengthen integrated disease surveillance and for emergency obstetric and neonatal care.  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will use $300,000 for legal clinics and human rights training for refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will receive $250,000 to prevent sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in conflict-affected populations.  Finally, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will use $150,000 to reinforce capacities for human rights protection.

So far this year, significant progress has been made in peace consolidation in CAR. However, it has not brought any dividends to the 1.5 million people most affected in the north and east of the country. Rather, the overall humanitarian situation has deteriorated, leaving increasing numbers of people in need.  Renewed insecurity has caused new internal displacements and increased the vulnerability of local populations.  With an additional 24,000 people displaced during 2010, the cumulated number of internally displaced people (IDPs) is now estimated at 192,029, including some 31,500 refugees from Sudan and DRC.  The displaced people in these conflict-affected regions live under extremely poor living conditions and insecurity, and have little or no access to basic services.

Humanitarian projects in CAR are suffering from severe lack of funding.  As of September, the revised needs in the 2010 Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) stand at 38 per cent funded.  The critical sectors of health, protection, and education are severely under-funded, at 10 per cent, 25 per cent, and 28 per cent respectively.  CERF funding will be used to fill the gap in the response in these sectors.

[Last updated: 10 November 2010]

CERF in Central African Republic 2009
CERF in Central African Republic 2008
CERF in Central African Republic 2007
CERF in Central African Republic 2006