Info Bulletin 60
May 20th, 2008 by Gisele Willybiro, OCHA
12 - 19 May 2008 - Highlights:
- Charles Massi appointed as political coordinator of the UFDR
- Agricultural production boosted in Paoua
- Two health centers rehabilitated in Sam Ouandja and Ouanda Djallé
Background and security
Massi political coordinator of the UFDR
On 12 May, the President of the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR), Michel Djotodja who lives in Cotonou, appointed Charles Massi as political coordinator of the group. This nomination has been publicly challenged by UFDR leaders in the north-east.
Charles Massi, leader of the Democratic Forum for Modernity (FODEM), a political party, was Minister of Transport and then of Rural Development in the government of former Prime Minister Elie Doté under the presidency of Bozizé.
Attacks by ‘coupeurs de route’
Armed bandits, so-called coupeurs de route, attacked a village 25 km north of Kaga Bandoro in the province of Nana-Grébizi last week. The attack and the reprisals by the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD) forced more than 600 people to flee to Kaga Bandoro and 400 others sought refuge in the bush. Another attack by bandits in Gbaïzera sent 800 villagers fleeing towards Batangafo in Ouham province.
It is estimated that more than ten armed bandits were killed in the last weeks by regular and rebel armed forces or by village self-defense committees in different places in the north-west. In revenge, bandits resorted to burning houses and whole villages.
Current events
Boosting agricultural production in Paoua
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) on 8 March concluded a partnership agreement with 46 community groups comprising of 1,344 people as part of its support to agricultural organizations in the Paoua area. The programme aims to support and boost agriculture using animal traction, an activity which has been particularly affected by the conflict in the region.
Each community group received a plough and tools such as pickaxes, shovels, and machetes together with a standard kit consisting of hoes and seeds, donated by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). These kits should lead to an increase of agricultural production, and particularly of agriculture supported by animal traction. The plough will be used by group members who will pay a rental fee directly into the common fund. This money will sustain the support through maintenance of the equipment and the purchase of oxen and it will increase the organization’s available cash.
In addition, DRC also supports women’s and community groups by providing equipment for food processing such as mills and oil presses, and for the artisanal production of soap, bricks and clothes. Other groups are being supported to produce vegetables through the rehabilitation of shallow land and the distribution of kits and seeds for rice production provided by FAO.
At the end of May 2008, an engine to power several agricultural machines, the first one in the region, will be installed and managed by the community of Paoua.
For more information: stefaninidavide@yahoo.it
Health situation in Vakaga
The World Health Organization (WHO), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) conducted a joint mission to Vakaga province in the north-east between 23 March and 6 April. WHO conducted a rapid assessment of the health situation and of the operational level of health structures. The mission identified the needs of the population in terms of basic health care, and the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, and determined the possible humanitarian consequences of the health environment in the province. The main causes of morbidity are malaria, respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases. The International Medical Corps (IMC) carries out an assessment of the nutritional situation.
Health facilities in southern Vakaga are functioning better than the ones in the north and the west of Birao, where health infrastructures are deplorable, their staff unskilled and equipment and drugs are lacking. On the Birao-Ouadda road in the south of the province, health facilities supported by IMC and the clinic of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) of the Netherlands provide adequate care. Their facilities are better equipped, drugs are available and qualified staff is further being trained.
Health centers rehabilitated in the north east
The IMC has been provding health services to people struck by violence in Sam Ouandja, Ouanda Djallé and Ouadda in the north-east of the country since August 2007. As the rainy season had already started at that time of the year, the NGO was obliged to cover the roof of the three health centers with plastic sheets to immediately begin service delivery.
In January 2008, the full rehabilitation of the health center of Sam Ouandja started. Six hospital wards, a delivery room, and an operating theatre were constructed with the help of the local population, supplying building materials such as sand and gravel. The Union for Reformed Judaism, a charitable foundation based in the United States, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) made the necessary funds available. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Refugee Agency (HCR), and the Emergency Response Fund (ERF) donated the medical equipment.
For a total cost of $ 40,000, the 18,000 people of Sam Ouandja and 3,000 refugees from Darfur now have access to quality primary and emergency health care. Services are delivered by two medical doctors, one assistant doctor, two nurses and three midwives. A management committee, chaired by the deputy mayor of the town, was put in place.
The same project was completed early May in Ouanda Djallé, where two doctors, four nurses and two midwives provide medical care in the new health center. IMC plans to rehabilitate the Ouadda health center in the coming months.
For more information: gyogo@imcworlwide.org
Coordination
Visit of Civil-Military Coordinator
Marie-Sophie Reck of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is in charge of civil-military coordination in the east of Chad and the north-east of the Central African Republic. Based in Abéché, Ms. Reck visited CAR from 14 to 17 May to meet UN agencies, development partners and representatives of NGOs which carry out projects in the north-east of the country.
The role of the Civil-Military Coordinator is to liaise between humanitarian actors and the international military staff of EUFOR and MINURCAT by sharing, structuring and coordinating information from both sides. If necessary, she can also liaise with the national military forces. Another part of her task is advising the Humanitarian Coordinator on issues related to linkages with armed forces. The Civil-Military Coordinator will conduct regular mission to CAR as part of her assignment.
For more information: reck@un.org
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