In remote south-eastern CAR, NGOs organize development work with the population
Mar 18th, 2008 by Brice Blondel UNDP CAR
It takes no less than six days of arduous travel to cover the 1,000km of dusty roads between the city of Bangui and the village of Obo in the far east of the Central African Republic. In a country where the state has little control beyond the capital city, the population of Obo cannot rely on the central government for the provision of basic healthcare, education or transportation infrastructure.
However, with the help of United Youth for Environmental Protection and Community Development (JUPEDEC), a local NGO, villagers have managed to build health centres, classrooms and bridges, and have established income-generating activities. Relying largely on natural resources and local work forces, JUPEDEC is contributing to the improvement of the living conditions of thousands of people.
Based in Zemio, and also active in Bambouti, Djemah, Mboki, and Bangassou, the organisation is encouraging self-sufficiency by providing training in health and education. In an effort to support these initiatives, UNICEF trained seventy parents, who can now teach the national curriculum to the children of their villages. Infrastructure is slowly being improved; 17 bridges have already been rebuilt by volunteers using the wood available on-site. Tannery workshops, brick making activities, jam, juice and palm oil confection are providing income to the many rural villages.
Isolated in an insecure area
Cornered between Sudan and DRC, south-eastern villages in CAR are regularly threatened by acts of violence and banditry. On 5 March, 80 people were kidnapped during raids in Obo, Bassigbiri, and Bambouti.
A United Nations mission is currently assessing the humanitarian situation in the region. Reportedly, Joseph Kony, leader of the LRA, has recently broken a ceasefire deal with the Ugandan government by moving from his base in the Democratic Republic of Congo to a site just south of Obo. However, this information has not yet been confirmed.
Many uncontrolled armed groups are operating in the remote region, taking advantage of the lack of military control on the borders between CAR, Sudan, and DRC. Unfortunately, this has put the NGOs in the area at particular risk, and a driver for JUPEDEC was attacked and severely wounded on the road between Mboki and Zemio.
For more information on JUPEDEC please contact
Lewis Alexis Mbolinani
Mail: mbolinani@yahoo.fr
Tel: +236 75 05 21 90 | +236 70 40 70 42 | +236 72 25 99 42
