OCHA Situation Report
Central African Republic
3 December 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Highlights

In reply to the UNSC's agreement to extend until the end of 2007 the
mandate of the UN peace-consolidation mission BONUCA, UNSG stated on
30/11 that the activities of BONUCA in the coming year will focus
primarily on: (a) supporting national reconciliation and dialogue; (b)
assisting efforts to strengthen democratic institutions; (c)
facilitating the mobilization of resources for national reconstruction,
economic recovery, poverty alleviation and good governance; (d)
mainstreaming a gender perspective into peace-building, in line with SC
Resolution 1325 (2000); and (e) reinforcing cooperation between the UN
and member States of the CEMAC and other regional entities, with a view
to facilitating and strengthening initiatives aimed at addressing
cross-border insecurity in the sub-region.

The UN Department of Peace-Keeping Operations (DPKO) completed on 28/11
a fact-finding mission to CAR, and then proceeded to Chad and Sudan.
The delegation will present results and a recommendation to UNSG about
the possible establishment of a UN peace-keeping mission in the troubled
region.

The CAR army, with the support of the French military, was able to
regain control of the towns of Birao and Ouadda, allegedly occupied by
opposition armed groups during the first half of November.  There have
been reports of military and civilian being fatalities and a high number
of casualties, but no figures or estimates are available.  A French
military spokesman has confirmed on 28/11 that the French military was
involved in the fighting.

As of this date, opposition armed groups claim the seizure of N'Dele,
capital of the Bamingui-Bangoran prefecture.

According to local sources, hundreds of civilians, most of them women
and children, have fled towards neighbouring Sudan during fighting near
the town of Birao.  Most men, reportedly fearful of being mistaken for
opposition fighters, fled to the bush instead, and their food and health
situation is cause for concern.

Humanitarian actors have finally been authorized to carry out an
assessment in the area most affected by current conflict, and MSF will
soon travel to the Vakaga and Bamingui Bangoran prefectures.

Sectors

Coordination and support services

The multidisciplinary inter-agency mission led by ASG Ibrahima Fall,
which visited CAR from 04/11 to 11/11, presented its report on 29/11,
concluding that CAR suffers from a multi-faceted crisis in which
political, development, security and humanitarian challenges are closely
intertwined, and whereby each of these elements fuels the others, and
contributes to the rapid deterioration of the overall situation.  The
report called for improved assistance to those in need, while noting
that humanitarian and development activities must be coordinated and
work in synergy.

The Coordinated Aid Programme (CAP) 2007 for CAR has been launched by
UNSG on 30/11, who specifically mentioned CAR's humanitarian situation.
For 2007, humanitarian organizations plan to provide life-saving
assistance for up to one million people: food, drinking water, health
services and supplies, shelter, protection, and non-food items.  NGOs
and UN agencies participating in the appeal require USD 49.5M for 67
projects, with health being the sector requiring most funding (USD
13.0M), followed by food (USD 9.6M) and economic recovery and
infrastructure (USD 5.2M).

United Nations Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS) has been operating
successfully since its launch on 01/11, flying so far a total of 180
passengers and 1597 kg of cargo, on 46 flights, to nine destinations in
the country.

The French NGO "Solidarite Internationale" is conducting a four-week
assessment in CAR and conflict affected areas in particular, and
expressed to UNICEF their interest in working in the sectors of water
and sanitation, NFIs, and health.

A media mission (NY times, Reuters, Voice of America) visited CAR under
WFP auspices, and in particular the country's conflict-affected
northwest.

COOPI has a new representative in CAR as of 03/12, Mr. Marco Cordero.
Former representative Mr. Mario Baldin completed his mission and retired
after over 20 years of service in the world of cooperation.

Economic Recovery and Infrastructure

IDA has approved on 28/11 a grant of USD 82M for CAR.  This donation
marks the full reestablishment of cooperation between CAR and the World
Bank. The money is aimed at support to the country's imminent budget
needs, including payment of debt arrears, and institutional
reinforcement.

Food Security

Under their relief and recovery project, WFP distributed 687 metric tons
of food to 69,780 highly vulnerable beneficiaries (IDPs, HIV/AIDS
infected-affected persons, orphans) during month 11/06.

Health

Twenty pedagogic inspectors from Bangui and from conflict-affected
prefectures are being trained by UNICEF, on HIV/AIDS in emergency
situations.

Eight staff from the Ministry of Education as well as civil society
associations, went on mission under UNICEF auspices to the towns of
Bambari, Berberati, Boda, Boali, Bossangoa, Bossembele, Bouar,
Kaga-Bandoro, Mbaiki, and Sibut, in order to perform a rapid assessment
for the prospective launch of HIV/AIDS training programmes for school
children, focusing on risk and vulnerability.

The epidemiological surveillance and outbreak response system of the
Ministry of Health, supported by WHO and UNICEF, is currently awaiting
an assessment by Institute Pasteur in Dakar on a suspected yellow fever
outbreak in CAR.  UNICEF has reinforced its alert and epidemiological
surveillance system.

In preparation of a child survival campaign in January 2007, UNICEF has
ordered vaccines, impregnated mosquito nets, Mebendazole and vitamin A
tablets, to arrive in Bangui before year-end.

MSF-Holland, in partnership with UNICEF, continues to provide
humanitarian assistance in the north of CAR, in the sub-districts of
Boguila and Markounda especially, using outreach and clinic-based
approaches. Malnutrition screening and management of moderate
malnutrition are undertaken during such activities, while severe
malnutrition especially among children is managed through standard
protocol.  Care is also provided for ante-natal and post-natal cases,
disease consultation, and immunization against tetanus and measles.

Multi-sector assistance and protection to refugees and IDPs

UNHCR has announced the imminent resumption of the repatriation of
Sudanese refugees from CAR.

Protection and Rule of Law

UNICEF and its partners have been ensuring birth registration in
conflict affected areas, mostly in Nana-Gribizi prefecture, by
supporting the training of 64 national registrars.

The "Association of Female Lawyers of CAR" and UNICEF agreed to sign a
USD 35,000 cooperation agreement, for monitoring gross human rights
violations of child and women, in the framework of UNSC Resolution 1612.

The International Federation for Human Rights issued an open letter on
23/11, addressed to UNSG and UNSC, calling for international attention
towards human right violations in CAR.

Shelter and Non-Food Items

UNICEF has dispatched 500 family emergency kits to Bozoum on 02/12 for
distribution through MSF.  For security reasons however, MSF has not yet
been able to organize the distribution of the NFI family kits to IDPs.

UNICEF delivered NFIs (106 packs of 24 of therapeutic biscuit BP5 each;
100 wool blend blankets; 200 plastic mats; 6 Infant/child length-height
measuring boards), to MSF-Holland, for distribution in the hospital of
Boguila and in the health centre in Markounda.

Water and Sanitation

A mobilization and information campaign was conducted from 19/11 to
28/11 by UNICEF, for the "school hygiene and education programme", in
six schools in Nana-Gribizi prefecture.

Training of water management committees has been completed by UNICEF
from 21/11 to 25/11, in the towns of Bocaranga (110 people), Ndim (160
people), and Ngaoundai (115 people).

UNICEF has taken part in the fifth RWSN (Rural Water Supply Network)
forum, held in Ghana from 27/11 to 30/11, which addressed "Scaling up
local entrepreneurship in rural water supply to meet the MDGs".

Did you know ?

- In 2006, CAR was the country with the highest percentage of
humanitarian funding going through the CAP: 94 %.  DRC follows with 87%,
while all other annual appeal scored between 60% and 85%.

- Only one EU member state, France, has an embassy in Bangui.  In 2004,
France and Russia were the only non-African countries with embassies in
CAR; they were joined in 2005 by China and the USA.

Forthcoming humanitarian events, missions, and activities

Mission to CAR by IRIN: Saturday 09/12/2006 to Saturday 16/12/2006.

Mission to CAR by Al-Jazeera: week starting 11/12/2006 [to be
confirmed].

Launch of the CAP 2007: Tuesday 12/12/2006, 08:30 - SOS Village, Ouango,
Bangui.

Workshop for the validation of the Criminal Code and the Code of
Criminal Procedure, supported by BONUCA: Tuesday 12/12/2006 to Thursday
14/12/2006.

If you have inputs for the next edition, or questions and comments on
this one, please contact: Maurizio Giuliano, Public Information Officer,
Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator, C.A.R. Email: giuliano@un.org

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