When families are forced to flee their villages because of violence, they often have to leave behind some of their most valuable assets: seeds and tools for farming. This leads to an even bigger loss: their harvest.

Because of ongoing violence, food security is a major issue in the Central African Republic. Although some early projects are making a difference, more needs to be done; local food prices are increasing rapidly for food produced both inside and out of CAR .
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The UNICEF representation in the Central African Republic has just published their monthly report for June 2008. It contains an excellent overview on the current humanitarian, political and security situation, as well as a description of UNICEF’s projects in CAR.

Here is the summary:

• CAR is placed on the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission’s agenda
• Peace agreement signed between the CAR government, APRD and UFDR
• The UN Fund grants UNICEF US$5.8million to purchase 740,000 mosquito nets
• UNICEF signs new agreements with COOPI, IMC, IPHD, IRC and Merlin
• Mass vaccination campaign against Yellow Fever is held in northwestern CAR
• International Day of the African Child is celebrated
• The construction of 404 latrines is completed in northern CAR
• Current UNICEF appeal funded at just 29%

Click here to download the report (PDF - 1.2MB)

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Insecurity continues to ravage the northern areas of the Central African Republic where fighting and village attacks by bandits, rebels and military are still ongoing and has led to the internal displacement of about 220,000 people. About 73,000 people have sought refuge in Chad and Cameroon. There are also more than 2,600 refugees from neighboring western Sudan (Darfur) in the country.

In order to assess the number of people in need of alimentary support and to locate them, the World Food Programme has carried out an evaluation mission. Continue Reading »

By Emily Bamford, Bossangoa. Neige giggles shyly and hides behind her grandmother’s shawl. Just three years old, she lives with 11 other family members in a tiny home on the banks of the Ouham River in northern Central African Republic (CAR). Neige may look like any other little girl, but she is very lucky to be alive. A few months ago she almost died from malnutrition. Continue Reading »