OCHA Situation Report
Central African Republic
1 - 15 December 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Highlights

The CAR authorities have reportedly regained control of all those towns
that were controlled by opposition armed groups until early December.
Many observers believe that military support by France and FOMUC was
crucial in this endeavour.

At an African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council meeting held in
Addis Ababa on 7 December attention was called on the situation of CAR
and the country's needs. The country won support from the AU for her
reconstruction efforts, but the AU did not respond to the country's
pleas for UN troops on its border with Sudan. A resolution was adopted,
to support reconstruction and development efforts in CAR. BONUCA
attended the meeting along with the CAR delegation.

The UN Secretary General, in a statement issued on 7 December through
his Spokesperson, expressed deep concern for the deteriorating security
situation in Darfur, and the consequences this may have on the stability
of neighbouring countries including CAR and Chad.

On 7 December a violent incident took place in Bangui's north.
According to local sources, a Chadian national forming part of CAR's
Presidential Guard was killed and incinerated by the local civilian
population.

Sectors

Coordination and support services

The CAR Coordinated Aid Programme (CAP) for 2007 was launched in Bangui
on 12 December with participation of the Prime Minsiter a.i. Over 300
people attended the event. They included heads and staff of Diplomatic
Missions accredited to CAR from outside the country, who travelled to
Bangui to attend the event and hold bilateral meetings with humanitarian
actors. Participation at the event can be seen as a sign of interest in
the CAP higher than in previous years.

Education

In response to the Government's requests for supporting the capacity
building of teachers, UNICEF has agreed to train 513 "parents-teachers"
(individuals with sufficient knowledge to compensate for the lack of
professional teachers).  These "parents-teachers" will receive 21 days
of training before they can teach. The first such training session
started on 4 December in the Nana-Gribizi prefecture for 129 teachers,
and will end on 29 December.

Food Security

Distribution of food to IDPs in the Paoua area (implemented by COOPI
with support from UNICEF, WFP, and WHO), remained blocked due to lack of
access to the population.  A quantity of 250 MTs of food still remains
to be distributed, requiring three weeks of work.

Multi-sector assistance and protection to refugees and IDPs

UNHCR resumed the repatriation of Sudanese refugees from CAR on 15
December, after having had to suspend the operation for eight months due
to security concerns. Over 200 returnees, including 33 people with
special needs, flew back home between 15 and 16 December.  UNHCR is to
run nine flights weekly, on aircraft chartered by IOM, enabling
approximately 450 refugees per week to return.

Also on 15 December, UNHCR has resumed the repatriation of DRC refugees
from CAR.  Three ferries hired by UNHCR crossed on 15 December, and
three more ferries are to cross every Friday, bringing average 150
refugees back home every week.

Protection and Rule of Law

Radio N'deke Luka, a local radio station supported by UNDP and BONUCA
among others, was criticized by some media for its position on certain
political issues. Death threats were allegedly aired against some of the
radio's staff. The international community expressed the need for an
open and free press.

BONUCA is due to start a new training programme to support the military
as well as civilian police, focusing on ethics as well as human rights.

Shelter and Non-Food Items

IDPs on the Bozoum - Bocaranga axis are in need of NFIs, according to
UNICEF's partners.  Available information indicates that although coping
mechanisms exist, recent new arrivals require low-profile NFI
distributions in order to keep the fragile balance with the host
population.

Water and Sanitation

A mission visited CAR under UNICEF's auspices from 20 November to 8
December, for the validation of the pre-certification report on "Guinea
Worm" eradication; no single case of the disease was found.  UNICEF and
WHO have been jointly involved for years in joint activities to
eradicate the disease.

During December water and sanitation activities are ongoing with UNICEF
support in six schools in the Nana-Gribizi prefecture.

Throughout December UNICEF is taking care of maintenance for hand pumps
in the Ouham-Pende prefecture.

Other

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) announced on 13 December that
an emergency team is en route to CAR to assess the situation in light of
increased reported violence.

The NGO "Refugees International" who visited CAR in November issued
their report on 14 December, and included the following policy
recommendations: (1) International NGOs and UN agencies with a
humanitarian mandate should respond to the crisis in northern CAR; (2)
Donors should respond to the United Nations Coordinated Aid Programme
for 2007; (3) The Government has primary responsibility to protect the
civilian population, and must stop armed groups from committing human
rights abuses; and (4) Human rights agencies should establish a presence
in CAR.

Did you know ?

The CAR's CAP is the one requiring the second smallest amount of
funding, but also the one with the lowest cost per beneficiary:
approximately US$ 25 per person.

>From mid-2005 until mid-2006, less than five international media
>entities
visited CAR. In the week starting 11 December 2006 alone, four
international media entities were in the country (AFP, Agence Oeil
Publique, IRIN, Le Figaro). Three more entities had visited in November
2006 (New York Times, Reuters, Voice of America).

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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