News bulletin 97 (16 Feb- 2 March 2009)
Mar 3rd, 2009 by Gisele Willybiro, OCHA
Highlights
- Batangafo, in the prefecture of Ouham in the north-west, attacked by the FDPC
- Launch of the program “Revival of the production of agro-pastoral communities in Ouham Pendé” by the Danish Refugee Council
- Presentation of the project “Knowledge, Attitude and Practice” of breastfeeding, hand washing and use of mosquito nets by UNICEF.
Background and security
The city of Batangafo attacked
The city of Batangafo, located in the prefecture of Ouham in the north-east of the country, was attacked on the night of 20 to 21 February.
The attack by elements of the Front Démocratique du Peuple Centrafricain (FDPC) resulted in the destruction and looting of all administrative structures of the city. A food warehouse of the World Food Program (WFP) has also been looted before the rebels left the city on the morning of Sunday 22 February. The people who had fled the city on Saturday began to return home after the departure of the rebels. No exactions against civilians or their property has been reported.
On 2 February 2007 in Sirt, Libya, The FDPC and the Government had signed a peace agreement for a cessation of hostilities and the quartering of the elements of the armed group for demobilization. Abdoulaye Miskine, President of the FDPC had also attended the closing ceremony of the inclusive political dialogue, a forum held in Bangui from 8 to 20 December 2008.
Current events
Agropastoral activities in Ouham Pendé
From 16 to 20 February, prior to the official launch of the “Renewal of the production of agro-pastoral communities in Ouham Pendé” programme, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and Caritas together carried out an assessment in the north-western cities of Ngaoundaye, Ndima, Bocaranga, Koui and Bozoum. Developed by DRC in partnership with Caritas, this early recovery project is funded by the European Commission Delegation in CAR for up to 1 million Euros, or about 77% of the total project budget which will run over three years. The remaining funds is provided by the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) for the early recovery activities and the Peace Building Fund for a project in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The revival of the production of agro-pastoral communities in Ouham Pendé is based on the results of the early rehabilitation programme implemented by DRC in Paoua in 2008 and an assessment conducted in August 2008 on agro-pastoral group needs. This programme intends to help improve the living conditions of populations in Ouham Pendé by revitalizing the agro-pastoral production and the socio-economic development of the region.
Activities will focus on strengthening the technical and organizational capacities of groups of farmers, herders, artisans and women as well as the provision of material support for the revival and growth of productivity within the agro-pastoral sector. The project plans to support around 900 groups (about 27,000 persons), primarily in Paoua and Bozoum, but also in the sub-prefectures of Koui, Ngaoundaye and Bocaranga, giving a total of about 400,000 indirect beneficiaries.
This programme will increase local production but also support other aspects of agriculture and animal husbandry. Particular emphasis will be placed on the structuring of rural-worker organizations to contribute to the rebuilding of their social capital. More than 620 groups have already been identified in this first step. The launch of the programme is expected in Bangui during the month of March 2009.
Contact drccar@drc.dk for more information
USAID allocates $ 21.5 million to WFP in 2008
On 26 February, during a ceremony held at the WFP logistics base in Bangui, the UN agency praised the generosity of the United States. In 2008, the United States allocated a total of 21.5 million USD for WFP operations in the Central African Republic.
“WFP warmly thank the United States for its very generous contributions to WFP operations in CAR in 2008. This aid has been essential to meet the needs of the population at a crucial moment when the country was coming out of crisis,” said Sitta Kai-Kai, WFP Representative in the CAR.
The United States is the largest donor to WFP in CAR. The 21.5 million U.S. dollars allocated in 2008 were able to provide 14,540 tons of food for the “Protracted Relief and Recovery 10189.2: Assistance to people affected by armed conflict in CAR and the sub region” programme. This amount represents 36% of the total needs of the operation for 18 months.
“The United States want the food from the ‘Food for Peace’ initiative to reach those who are most vulnerable, to improve their food security, enable them to restore their lives and contribute to consolidating peace in Central Africa …” said * Cook, the Ambassador of the United States to CAR. In 2008, WFP operations in Central Africa provided food assistance to over 500,000 vulnerable people living in food insecurity, including 130,000 displaced persons affected by armed conflict, 166,000 children attending schools through school feeding programs, 15,000 children under 5 and 5,000 undernourished pregnant and lactating women.
“Thanks to a strong cooperation between the Central African Government and the UN agencies, donations such as this from the United States may be best directed towards the most vulnerable populations who need all our support in the short term, but also to help build strong foundations for the future.” said Sylvain Maliko, Minister of State for Planning, the Economy and the International Cooperation.
Contact Ilona.Milner @ wfp.org for more information
UNICEF launches the KAP project
At a press conference on 26 February, Mahimbo Mdoe, Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), presented a draft survey programme that the agency has just launched in CAR, known as KAP (Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices). The survey focuses on breast-feeding, basic hygiene such as handwashing, and the use of mosquito nets.
This study aims to identify the knowledge, attitudes and practices that can help prevent diseases associated with the lack of, or poor practice in, exclusive breastfeeding, the failure to observe the rules of basic hygiene including washing of hands, and the non-use of mosquito nets which has a severe impact on child mortality.
The KAP survey has been initiated to provide an adequate solution to the problems of health and mortality among children and pregnant women resulting from such bad practices.
The KAP survey will be conducted in Bangui as well as other prefectures of the country, including Mambéré Kadei, Lobaye, Ouham, Ouaka and Mbomou. It will help to identify both the concerns of people within each of the survey themes and the main sources of information for communities, thus facilitating the future establishment of a robust communication plan concerning these issues.
Contact Us:
Gisèle Willybiro- Maïdou | willybiro@un.org | +236 75 54 90 31
