This is a plea for the Central African Republic. The Central African Republic (CAR) today finds itself in a state of chronic medical emergency. Five separate retrospective mortality surveys, carried out by MSF and other researchers, in prefectures accounting for the majority of the population, show excess mortality above what is considered to be the “emergency threshold.”
And yet the commitment by the country’s government and by the international community is going in the wrong direction. The government has been decreasing its investments in health, as have international donors, while humanitarian assistance has failed to reduce the widespread medical crisis.
The risk is high that the Central African Republic will become trapped: not considered urgent enough for significant emergency aid; not considered trustworthy enough for meaningful development assistance.
For the sake of CAR’s 4.4 million people, this cannot be allowed to happen. Existing levels of medical assistance are plainly insufficient to the scale of the needs. The country needs more actors conducting larger medical operations that reach more of the population.
In this paper, we outline the experiences, analyses and concerns of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) after 14 years working in the country. The report opens with a summary of the published evidence on CAR’s mortality over the past 18 months by MSF and other researchers. We then analyse the various causes for this before summarising the inadequate existing levels of assistance provided by all the various actors, including firstly the government of CAR, but also the international community including ourselves. We conclude with a call for greater medical assistance to the country.
Read the report from the inter-organisation mission to Sikikédé, in the Vakaga province of north-eastern CAR, which took place on Friday 25 November 2011. This was the first joint mission since September 2010. Download the report here (125kb) >>
Analyse du fonctionnement des marchés en relation avec la sécurité alimentaire des menagés
Resume
Malgré un potentiel agro-écologique et minier très important, la République Centrafricaine (RCA) reste l’un des pays les plus pauvres au monde. Selon l’Enquête Centrafricaine pour le Suivi-Evaluation du Bien-être1(ECASEB), en 2008, 62% de la population, soit 2,6 millions de personnes vivaient en dessous du seuil de pauvreté (49,6% en milieu urbain, et près de 69,4% en milieu rural).
L’évaluation réalisée répondait aux besoins exprimés à la fois par le Programme, le Reporting et la Coordination afin d’établir un bilan des activités menées et identifier une situation de base en début de période de soudure. Cette enquête s’inscrit aussi dans un processus d’apprentissage continu.
L’équipe AME (Appraisal, Monitoring and Evaluation) d’ACTED, coordonnée par la Manager Reporting & AME ACTED RCA, a mené une évaluation du 13 juin au 28 juin 2011 dans les sous-préfectures de Zémio et Mboki dans l’Ouest du Haut Mbomou et du 29 juin au 01 juillet 2011 dans la sous-préfecture de Djémah, visant à évaluer les niveaux de vulnérabilités sur la zone, les enjeux liés à l’accueil des déplacés et réfugiés sur la zone, les conséquences de la dégradation sécuritaire progressive sur les dynamiques de relèvement et les besoins persistants.
The ACTED team recently gave a presentation to the HDPT community on their multi-sector evaluation of Djémah, in the Haut-Mbomou préfecture of south-eastern CAR. The evaluation covers security, logistics, nutrition, food security, agriculture, water and sanitation, health, economic development, education, protection and advocacy. Download the presentation given to the HDPT community here >>
For more information, please contact:
Perrine Laissus
Reporting Manager
ACTED Central African Republic
perrine.laissus@acted.org
Central African Republic: Consolidated Appeal 2011 Mid-Year Review
In the midst of a still-fragile regional context, the Central African Republic (CAR) has achieved a significant step towards peace consolidation, with the peaceful holding of national elections in early 2011. In spite of the many claims put forward by the opposition regarding the legitimacy of the parliamentary election results, incumbent President Bozize was re-elected for a second term without major incidents. However, this important achievement has not yet brought the anticipated improvements for the vast majority of the CAR population.
In the north-west where the majority of the internally displaced people are located, little progress has been made towards building an environment conducive to durable returns. Similarly, CAR refugees in both Cameroon and Chad await further guarantees before returning to their home country. Whilst a comprehensive reintegration strategy has been agreed by the Government and its partners, no concrete steps have yet been taken in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process, in spite of the strong will of the Government to do so.
Une mission d’évaluation rapide multi-sectorielle a été réalisée par l’ONG ACTED (Agence d’Aide à la Coopération Technique et au Développement) dans la sous-préfecture de Djémah du 3 au 4 juillet 2011 pour évaluer les besoins des populations de cette zone enclavée.
La sous-préfecture de Djémah souffre de l’enclavement lié à la dégradation sécuritaire sur la Préfecture du Haut-Mbomou qui limite l’accès humanitaire à la zone et donc les interventions visant à soutenir la couverture des besoins essentiels. ACTED intervient à Djémah depuis 2009 dans le cadre d’un financement EuropeAid de promotion des micro-projets. L’ONG a mené une évaluation rapide début juillet 2011 afin d’identifier les besoins multi-sectoriels des 2919 habitants de la sous-préfecture de Djémah. La ville de Djémah est divisée en 3 grands quartiers (Ourou, Fouka et Centre Urbain) composés de 6 villages (Tourombo, Fouka, Centre Urbain, Ourou I, Ourou II, Mabon).
Mission conjointe d’evaluation rapide de la situation des refugies, personnes deplacees internes et autres personnes vulnerables dans le sud-est de la RCA
Le plan de contingence de la République Centrafricaine (RCA) pour l’année 2011 a retenu parmi les scenarii, l’afflux d’environ 21000 refugiés du sud Soudan comme conséquence des conflits à l’issue du référendum de janvier 2011. Il prévoit également que de nombreux refugiés seraient reçus dans la zone sud-est de la RCA notamment dans la préfecture du Haut-Mbomou entre la frontière du Soudan et la ville de Mboki en passant par les villes de Bambouti et Obo, portes d’entrée en RCA et villes à proximité immédiate de la frontière.
La situation sécuritaire et humanitaire dans cette zone est précaire et pourrait s’empirer dans le temps du fait de la présence de l’Armée de Resistance du Seigneur (LRA), originaire de l’Ouganda et qui sévit dans la même zone identifiée dans le plan de contingence pour recevoir un éventuel afflux des réfugiés soudanais. La LRA utilise l’extrémité sud-est de la RCA comme un corridor pour se déplacer vers le sud Soudan où se trouverait sa base arrière. Lors des accrochages entre les Forces armées centrafricaines (FACA) et la LRA, cette dernière a conduit des représailles contre les populations civiles et les ONG internationales operant dans la zone. Ainsi, pour des raisons de securité, la présence d’acteurs humanitaires y est très limitée.
La présente mission d’évaluation rapide des besoins qui s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’Immediate Response Emergency Opération (IR EMOP preparadness) devrait permettre au bureau pays du Programme Alimentaire Mondial (PAM), ainsi qu’aux autres acteurs humanitaires de mieux comprendre la situation dans le sud-est de la RCA à travers l’évaluation de la situation humanitaire des populations en mouvements, les capacités logistiques et la capacité des partenaires à intervenir dans l’éventualité d’un accroissement des opérations du PAM dans la region.
Par ailleurs, dans le cadre des termes de réference de la mission, il est aussi prévu de procéder à l’évaluation globale de la sécurité alimentaire dans la zone, notamment la situation des refugiés, des personnes déplacées internes et celle des populations hôtes dans les villes de Obo, Mboki, Zemio (préfecture Haut Mbomou), Rafaï et Bangassou (préfecture Mbomou).
Il faut noter que la plus récente évaluation conjointe dans le sud-est à l’initiative du Bureau OCHA date de Mai 2010, à la suite des déplacements massifs internes des populations dans cette zone sous les coups de la LRA. La présente mission, en plus de mettre l’accent sur les dispositions à prendre en cas d’afflux éventuel de réfugiés soudanais, devra en même temps réévaluer la situation des réfugiés et des Personnes Déplacées Internes (PDI) déjà présents dans la region pour avoir une analyse complète de la situation dans la zone. La détérioration de la sécurité dans cette zone a eu pour consequence la reduction de la présence des acteurs humanitaires. De ce fait, les informations sont peu disponibles.
C’est dans le souci de mieux connaitre le terrain et pour parer aux éventualités que la présente mission, initiée par le PAM avec la participation des agences du SNU, ONGs et partenaires locaux, s’est déroulée dans la zone sud-est dans la période du 2 au 31 mars 2011.
Between November 3 and 25 2010, two COOPI teams conducted an evaluation of the humanitarian situation in two sub-prefectures of the Haut-Mbomou prefecture, Obo and Bambouti, with a focus on the Mboki, Obo and Bambouti axis. The final report includes information on the security situation, the humanitarian actors and locations of intervention, the results of the evaluation in the sectors of education, protection, food security and livelihoods, health and water and sanitation and the questionnaire used for the evaluation.
The UNICEF office in the Central African Republic has just published their monthly report for August 2009. It contains an overview on the current humanitarian, political and security situation, and provides an update on UNICEF’s ongoing activities in CAR.
Here is the summary of activities and events in August 2009:
Preliminary assessments conducted in Mambéré Kadei, Sangha Mbaéré and Lobaye by MSF Spain/Belgium, MSF France and ACF revealed that 16% of children aged under 5 are acutely malnourished and 6.6% are severely acutely malnourished. UNICEF is appealing to donors for $1.5 million for lifesaving therapeutic foods, drugs and other supplies; to conduct a national nutritional survey; and train community health workers in early detection of children and women whose nutritional status is compromised.
6 schools rehabilitated by ACTED were inaugurated in the presence of the Minister of Education in 3 prefectures of the country: Ouham, Nana Gribizi and Bamingui Bangoran. These schools will allow 1,350 children to learn in better conditions in the upcoming new school year 2009-2010.
Mid-Year Annual Work Plan (AWP) reviews were organised by the programme sections and sub-offices to compare the activities so far implemented to those initially planned. The AWP was revised to better reflect reality for the rest of the year.
UNICEF provided financial support to organise training to strengthen the capacity of the school directors, teachers and parents. 130 school directors from Ouham Pendé and 59 from Bamingui Bangoran received training in school management and legislation; 274 parent-teachers from Ouham, 104 from Haute-Kotto, 90 from Bamingui Bangoran and 130 from Kémo were trained on their teaching skills; and 220 members of the PTA of Bossangoa and Bouca were trained on the role of the PTA.
101 children (94 boys, 17 girls) associated with armed groups who were released in July were reunified with their families and relatives. To date, UNICEF partners DRC and IRC have supported the reunification and community reintegration of a total number of 361 children (310 boys, 51 girls) formerly associated with the APRD since the child DDR programme began in May 2009.
The preparatory work for the water and sanitation sector Round Table continued, with the opening of the website at http://tableronde-eau.minplan-rca.org/home and relevant documents uploaded on the site. The round table will be held in Bangui on 8 October 2009.
For more information on UNICEF’s activities in the Central African Republic contact:
Hyewon Lee | Reports Officer | UNICEF CAR
Email: hlee@unicef.org | Tel. +236 75 70 63 90
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 . Continue Reading »
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
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 »
About HDPT Central African Republic
The Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team (HDPT) unites all organizations working to alleviate the humanitarian and development crisis in the Central African Republic: United Nations agencies, the Red Cross Movement, NGOs and other organizations. For more information, visit About HDPT CAR or email us at info[at]hdptcar.net
Interviews with Dr Ione
Dr Ione describes her incredible experiences in the Central African Republic. A thrilling eye-witness account of the country’s history.
Le plan de contingence de la République Centrafricaine (RCA) pour l’année 2011 a retenu parmi les scenarii, l’afflux d’environ 21000 refugiés du sud Soudan comme conséquence des conflits à l’issue du référendum de janvier 2011. Il prévoit également que de nombreux refugiés seraient reçus dans la zone sud-est de la RCA notamment dans la préfecture du Haut-Mbomou entre la frontière du Soudan et la ville de Mboki en passant par les villes de Bambouti et Obo, portes d’entrée en RCA et villes à proximité immédiate de la frontière.
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. 
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.
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. 
