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Bandits, rebels and more than 200,000 displaced people: Commission provides 4 million in humanitarian aid to victims of insecurity in the Central African Republic |
| Theallineed.com |
The European Commission has allocated 4 million in humanitarian aid to help some 200,000 vulnerable civilians in the north of the Central African Republic (CAR). The humanitarian situation there has deteriorated due to increasing activities of domestic and foreign rebel groups and bandits as well as the efforts of the CAR authorities to fight these groups. More than 200,000 people have been internally displaced as a result, with the numbers steadily increasing since last year. In addition, an estimated 4,000 refugees have fled attacks in the Darfur province of neighbouring Sudan to the north-east of the CAR. At the same time, some 48,000 people from the CAR have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, notably Chad. The Commission is already supporting these refugees through allocations from its 15 million global humanitarian plan for Chad (see IP/07/327). All funds are channelled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), under the responsibility of the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner, Louis Michel.
"Europe cares. Our humanitarian aid helps around 200,000 vulnerable people in the Central African Republic affected by conflict, including displaced people, refugees, returnees and vulnerable host communities. Both the Commission and the Government of the Central African Republic are acutely aware that the solution ultimately lies in securing a negotiated peace, better governance and long-term development. But in the meantime, we have to do what we can to limit the terrible suffering of so many uprooted families. The Commission will focus its relief assistance as far as possible in areas and sectors already earmarked for future reconstruction and development under the European Development Fund".
The Commission's humanitarian support covers the following sectors:
(1) Protection the level of violence against civilians remains the main challenge of the humanitarian intervention;
(2) Food security malnutrition has reached worrying levels among children under five in the most conflict-affected areas;
(3) Shelter in particular shelter materials that protect against the cold night-time temperatures;
(4) Non-food items such as soap, mosquito nets impregnated with repellents, and water containers;
(5) Water and sanitation access to safe water and basic sanitation facilities for displaced people;
(6) Health providing access to treatment against common killer diseases (diarrhoea, respiratory infections, malaria);
(7) Education supporting the provision of temporary schools for the children of internally displaced people[1].
The Commission also intends to support coordination of international humanitarian aid, including the need to collect accurate information and monitor progress.
The Commission is already assisting vulnerable people in CAR with food aid worth 1 million and. In addition, it has provided 15.5 million funding under the Peace Facility for Africa for the regional peace keeping mission FOMUC (Force multinationale en Centrafrique).
Commission-funded projects are implemented by non-governmental relief organisations, specialised UN agencies and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement. The European Commission has a Delegation in Bangui that constantly monitors the situation in CAR, while ECHO has sent a relief expert to assess the humanitarian situation and the basic needs.
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