The Central African Republic (CAR) is a land-locked, conflict-ridden and desperately poor country the size of France, which has gone through 30 years of economic and social decline. In 2008 it ranked 178 out 179 on the UN’s Human Development Index, making CAR one of only two African countries that have not seen any development progress since the early 1980s.

Heavily dependent on diamond and wood exports, CAR has been hit quicker and harder by the global economic crisis than most other African states. High production costs – due to small-scale methods, prohibitive transportation costs and very high costs of doing business – severely limit the competitiveness of CAR’s exports. Reductions in global demand therefore quickly translate into production cuts, layoffs and declining government revenue. The global economic crisis represents a severe risk for CAR’s fragile economy and political system.

Source: World Bank Country Assistance Strategy CAR (2009)

Heavily concentrated in the South, diamond production (in carats) declined almost 80 percent from peak to trough during the course of 2008, or 21 percent compared to 2007. Wood production declined more than 70 percent from peak to trough, or 20 percent compared to 2007. There are no reliable unemployment statistics. Yet, companies working in the South confirm that most of Central Africans previously working in mining and forestry have been laid off.

The social impact on the previously stable southern regions has been severe. Collapsing incomes have led to increasing social tensions among the unemployed population. Malnutrition rates among children have risen rapidly, as parents are no longer able to provide for their children. About 16 percent of children under five are acutely malnourished in the three most heavily affected provinces. Alarmingly, almost 7 percent are severely acutely malnourished. With the northern parts of CAR locked-down in rebellion, Continue Reading »

A slideshow of our most popular photos on Flickr

You can find more of our pictures on our Flickr account. Most photos on HDPT CAR were taken by Pierre Holtz.

In Coordinated Aid Programme, 34 aid agencies ask for $116m for 2009 to fund humanitarian assistance in the Central African Republic

Pierre Holtz/UNICEF

On 19 November, John Holmes, Emergency Relief Coordinator, launched the Humanitarian Appeal 2009, with CAR being one of the countries covered by the appeal.

The country’s Coordinated Aid Programme (CAP) 2009 includes 105 projects which require funding of just over $116 million. It seeks to provide aid to 1 million Central Africans hit by the conflict. The 2009 CAP strategic priorities are to (i) deliver life-saving assistance, particularly health care and safe water; (ii) protect people struck by violence against violations of their human rights; and (iii) integrate early recovery and humanitarian action.

Ten projects to provide basic healthcare and human rights protection, as well as a humanitarian air service to enable aid workers to reach people in remote areas and transport relief items, are ranked as an immediate priority. Just over $14m are needed for these most urgent activities.

Click here to download the 2009 Coordinated Aid Programme for CAR (PDF, 2.6MB) and here for more information, including all projects and the funding status of the Coordinated Aid Programme

Below is an open letter by Toby Lanzer, United Nations Resident Coordinator in CAR, to The Independent newspaper in response to Johann Hari’s article “Inside France’s secret war”. Mr Lanzer’s letter suggests unbalanced coverage and a lack of attention to the Central African Republic’s recent progress. Continue Reading »