OCHA Situation Report
Central African Republic
3 November 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Highlights

Concerned about the deteriorating security situation and continued
instability in CAR, which has seen low-intensity conflict for over a
year, The UN Secretary-General recommended on 23/10 to the SC that the
mandate of DPA's mission BONUCA be extended for a further period of 12
months, until the end of 2007.  He stated that strong UN presence will
be essential to peace consolidation in the country.

The UN Security Council is considering the deployment of a mission to
CAR and Chad to prevent spillovers from the Darfur conflict. This may
take the form of a peacekeeping mission, or a liaison and monitoring
mission with military observers and civilian police.

According to media, a Government spokesperson announced on 30/10 that
armed groups took control of the town of Birao (800 kms north-east of
Bangui, near Chad and Sudan), and that fatalities occurred among
civilians and military.  Media sources report that an army official had
earlier claimed that the attack came from domestic groups whom he called
"rebels", and that troops were deployed to retake control.  But a
Government spokesperson reportedly stated on 30/10 that the attackers
had entered CAR from Sudan, yet without implying the Sudan Government's
involvement.  The Government launched on 31/10 an appeal for unspecified
"help" to the security councils of UN, AU, and other inter-governmental
organizations, according to media sources.

Media sources claim that the Government confirmed losing two troops in
the fight against other armed groups who had taken control of the
village of Ouandago, near Kaga-Bandoro, on 03/10.  Local sources claimed
that several thousands civilians fled, adding to the number of IDPs in
the country.

The area of Batangafo and Kaga-Bandoro, is now the scene of recurrent
violent conflict between the CAR army and other armed groups, while
attacks by "road bandits" appear to be on the rise in the country's
northwest, in particular in the prefectures of Ouham and Ouham-Pende,
according to local sources.

Sectors

Coordination and support services

An inter-agency multi-disciplinary mission will visit CAR from 04/11 to
11/11, to find out more about the humanitarian situation and the IDP
crisis in particular, and to formulate recommendations for response.
Led by ASG Ibrahima Fall of UNICEF, the mission will comprise donor, UN,
and NGO representatives.

The NGO "International Relief and Development" (IRD) has visited on
mission repeatedly, and hopes to be setting up a permanent presence in
the country.

PlusNews journalist Anne-Isabelle Leclercq visited from Dakar, to report
on the spread of HIV/AIDS, including among refugees and IDPs.

Following OFDA's mission to CAR in August, the US Embassy in Bangui
declared in September the northwest of the country an "emergency",
indicating that 150,000 displaced persons need urgent food aid and
medical assistance (an estimate shared by WFP, and NGOs including COOPI,
IPHD, and IRD, among others).

Economic Recovery and Infrastructure

The World Bank announced on 10/10 a grant of USD 6.8 M to the Government
of CAR, made available from the Trust Fund for LICUS, in support of the
Government's efforts to restore and improve the delivery of basic
services, and to strengthen transparency and accountability in financial
management.

Food Security

WFP's general food distribution is ongoing to affected people in the
northwest region of Paoua, through COOPI as implementing partner, in
turn supported by local community organizations.  During October, 106
tons of food were delivered to an estimated 25,000 beneficiaries (of
whom 15,250 women and 5,230 children under five).

Health

During October, 10,647 children were vaccinated against measles, and
14,043 against poliomyelitis, as part of the third round of the
acceleration of the regular immunization campaign. [NB: partial result.]

Training of health workers at district level is in progress, targeting
36 doctors, 30 nurses, 15 laboratory technicians, 15 sanitation
officers. This focuses on the Avian Influenza pandemic preparedness and
response strategy, and on the integrated disease surveillance system.

An operation is being prepared to support 253 SGBV victims in five
provinces: between now and November, they will receive drugs through
eight health centres; while eight SBGV committees have been established
and will be financially supported through income-generating activities.

Multi-sector assistance and protection to refugees and IDPs

A NRC/IDMC mission visited CAR's north from 21/10 to 28/10.  HCPT
expressed the hope that they will set up a presence in the country.

UNHCR is transporting food to Mboki camp in the country's extreme east,
to address the precarious food situation of 10,000 Sudanese refugees,
following the temporary suspension of their voluntary repatriation.
During October, 63 tons of food were delivered.

A mission of UNHCR's logistics partner "Kuhne & Nagel" is assessing the
situation in Southern Sudan and Mboki, in preparation of an early
resumption of repatriation by air.  The mission arrived in Bangui on
26/10 to meet with the authorities, UNHCR, and its partners.

Protection and Rule of Law

A nine-year old girl was allegedly burnt to death by her parents in
Bangui in what appears to have been the expression of an animist
practice to burn young children believed to be addicted to witchcraft or
possessed by demonic forces. The girl's brother, in an apparent attempt
to save her, also died from burns whilst in legal custody. In close
coordination with the Ministry for Social Affairs and other authorities,
UNICEF immediately took action to ensure due legal process, by
advocating with Government for the perpetrators to be brought to
justice.  UNICEF also plans to conduct awareness campaigns against this
type of practice.

BONUCA reports that prison conditions remain precarious, with only one
meal being served per day, and no adequate medical care. Furthermore,
some detainees have reported that they are victims of physical cruelty.

The press freedom NGO "Reporters sans frontiers" ranked CAR 62nd
worldwide for respect of press freedoms, thereby scoring much better
than most African nations, most South American nations, and Russia.

At a meeting in Brazzaville on 30/10, NGOs from the Central African
region urged states to ratify the protocol on the African Court of Human
and Peoples' Rights.

Water and sanitation

On the basis of an agreement with UNICEF, IPHD is rebuilding the water
wells system in the Ouham-Pende prefecture.  IPHD is also planning to
raise awareness among communities about water and hygiene in the
districts of Bocaranga and Bozoum, thanks to Caritas trainers and
others.

Forthcoming humanitarian events, missions, and activities

Inter-agency mission to CAR: Saturday 04/11/2006 to Saturday 11/11/2006.

Mission to CAR by "Refugees International": Tuesday 14/11/2006 to
Saturday 25/11/2006

Mission to CAR by Reuters: Sunday 19/11/2006 to Sunday 26/11/2006

Launch of the CAP 2007: Tuesday 12/12/2006, 09:00 ? SOS Village, Ouango,
Bangui.

Mission to CAR by IRIN: first half of December [TBC]

Contact, questions, comments -
Maurizio Giuliano
  Public Information Officer, C.A.R.
  Email: giuliano@un.org

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