Central African Republic crisis ECHO CRISIS REPORT N 9

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1 Central African Republic crisis ECHO CRISIS REPORT N 9 Period covered 10/08/2013 to 17/09/ Map Time of validity 08:00 (UTC) ECHO Field Office Bangui IDPs in CAR : It is difficult having accurate numbers today. However we can estimate that more than 250,000 persons are displaced African refugees in Chad since January 2013: 13,087 African refugees in Cameroun since January 2013: 4,286 Number of new Central African refugees in The Democratic Republic of Congo since January 2013: 40,500. Last ECHO assessment demonstrate that an unknown number returned African refugees in The Republic of Congo since January: 4,841 ECHO Emergency Contact Tel.: Fax: echo-mic@ec.europa.eu 2. ECHO Recommendation / action Call for an urgent political resolution of the crisis and a mobilization of the international community and regional stakeholders to address the causes and consequences of the crisis. Call upon SELEKA and armed groups to stop immediately exactions perpetrated against civilians in particular retaliation acts and targeted executions. Condemn the execution of two aid workers of the international nongovernmental organization ACTED in Bossangoa Saturday 7 th and call upon the Government to bring the perpetrators to justice Call upon all CAR leaders including leaders seeking refuge outside of the country not to exacerbate tensions between communities in particular between Christians and Muslims as the consequences could be disastrous and would deeply affect the country. Call upon the ECCAS (Economic Community of Central African States) to pressure SELEKA leaders and the new authorities to protect the civilian population and to immediately stop retaliation acts against it. Continue to scale up the humanitarian response as security situation permits ECHO Crisis Report n 9 Central African Republic Crisis Page 1 of 5

2 3. Situation Political Context Six months after the overthrow of President F. Bozizé by the SELEKA, the new authorities are still unable to restore a minimum of administration and security in the country. On the contrary, the entire territory is increasingly out of a central control and a growing activity of localised armed groups (some affiliated with Seleka, others fighting it) which cause a direct threat to the population. As a consequence, the situation remains fragile in Bangui and has significantly deteriorated in the countryside particularly in the north western part of the country. Exactions against civilians are ongoing on a daily basis encouraged by a widespread feeling of impunity. Consequently, in several villages, self-defence groups or groups of male youth have attacked and killed some SELEKA elements. In retaliation, SELEKA and affiliates have burnt or partially burnt villages and civilians executed. Additional troops from the MISCA (stabilization mission in the Central African Republic) are still expected. 100 additional troops from the Republic of Congo arrived Sunday 15 September. The reporting period has seen a recrudescence of localised attacks and counter-attacks, notably in the western regions of Ouham, Ouham Pendé and Nana-Mambéré. On August 12, the ex-aprd (Armée Populaire pour la Restauration de la Démocratie) self-defence group in Beboura rebelled against SELEKA. As a consequence hundred houses were burnt, several people killed and most of the population displaced. More than 3500 new IDPs arrived in Paoua. However, this is a local situation and there is no reactivation of the ARPD. On August 16, a group of youth were exasperated by SELEKA behaviour and killed 4 SELEKA in Bohong houses were burnt in retaliation. On September 6, an unidentified armed group composed of self-defence forces and soldiers of the ex-president attacked the village of Benzembé. Muslims and Christians were split, Muslims shops were looted and several Muslims killed or injured. Similar types of attacks have been reported in the Ouham region in the coming days: Zéré (7/09), Bouca (9/09), others attacks were reported on (11/09 and 12/09). In retaliation, several Christians were killed by the SELEKA or by Muslim groups. Most of the population fled to the bush. In Bossangoa, the remaining population are split into two groups. Christians (around 4800 people) sought refuge in the catholic mission and Muslims regroups themselves somewhere else in town. On September 7, 2 national staff members of the international non-governmental organization ACTED entering in Bossangoa and clearly identified as NGO staff, were beaten and executed by the SELEKA. Despite the condemnation of such an act by the international community, the perpetrators, who are known, have not been arrested and are still on duty in Bossangoa. On Monday 9, a local health worker working in Bouca was also executed by the SELEKA presumably because he was Christian. A new step has been crossed in the level of violence as both groups (potentially Bozizé supporters supported by self-defence groups on one side and SELEKA defence forces on the other side) are committing exactions as looting and execution based on religious belief. Central African Republic was known as a place where religious communities were living globally in peace despite of few moments of tensions. It is still inappropriate qualifying these acts as inter community clashes as these acts of violence are perpetrated by specific groups and not by the population. However, if this kind of exactions is still observed in the coming weeks, both communities may fall into the trap of interreligious clashes with dramatic and long term consequences. In Bangui, the disarmament process conducted by the SELEKA is still facing major difficulties since most of the time is accompanied by looting and exactions as it was the case end of August (20th /21st) in Boye Rabbe district. On 27 August, the population of the Boeing district in Bangui occupied ECHO Crisis Report n 9 Central African Republic Crisis Page 2 of 5

3 the international airport in protest and to seek refuge following movements and exactions of SELEKA in their district. 4. Aid and assistance required / needs assessment Few humanitarian actors were operating in the North Western part of the country, prior to the current crisis. With the latest development, rapid assessments have been conducted as soon as the minimum security conditions permitted them. Attacks and revenges by local SELEKA groups were particularly violent. Several people were killed, hundreds houses burnt and/or looted. Most of the population has fled to the bush. Therefore, it is very difficult to have access to this population since they are spread on a large territory and because of the insecurity. In the bush, people are living in particular difficult conditions. In addition, they are exposed to the SELEKA or/and to groups presenting themselves as pro-bozizé supporters. Before any intervention, minimum security conditions are required for the population and for humanitarian actors. Humanitarian actors have to be particularly sensitive to effectively and visibly respond simultaneously to the needs of both Christian and Muslim communities in order not to exacerbate tensions. Assistance in NFI, food and shelter will be required. The response should be appropriate and should avoid setting up new IDP camps unless no other alternatives are possible. "Do no harm", conflict mitigation and community reconciliation should be part of the response. Elsewhere in the country, including Bangui, humanitarian actors are reinforcing their presence. However, the situation remains fragile and can change rapidly depending on the evolution of the tensions in Ouham and Ouham Pendé regions. 5. Local response N.A. 6. International response Basic security and prevention of attacks on the civilians are the first basic survival need of the population of CAR. Within the humanitarian response remit, Protection, Health, Nutrition, Food assistance, Non Food Items and shelter are the most acute sectors in which assistance is required. In Bossangoa (Ouham): MSF-H supports the hospital and has setup mobile clinics to assist IDPs in town. UNICEF emergency team will conduct an assessment as soon as the security situation is acceptable. UNFPA has handover few kits to the hospital. On September 12, an assessment done by the international community (DG ECHO included) in the town of Bossangoa, confirms that a large number of civilians from both communities have sought refuge in separate sections of the town. ICRC was supposed to send a team to Bossangoa on September 17 when the town was attacked. In Paoua (Ouham Pendé): UNHCR is registering new arrivals in order to organize a NFI distribution. MSF-FR supports the hospital and is conducting several mobile clinics. In Bohong (Ouham Pendé): Caritas has conducted a first assessment. UNHCR is going to provide some NFI kits to its partners. In Bozom (Ouham-Pendé): an assessment team is expected to go end of September. Some information is provided by CARITAS. ECHO Crisis Report n 9 Central African Republic Crisis Page 3 of 5

4 In Bouca (Ouham): for security reasons, MSF-SP had to leave the locality. ICRC has an emergency team on the ground and should distribute NFI and Food to the affected population. WFP have conducted several assessments. Needs by sectors: Protection Protection monitoring continue to highlight the following violations: arbitrary arrest and illegal detention, torture, extortion of goods, armed robbery, physical violence including sexual violence, rape and attempted rape, abduction, restriction of movement, targeted lootings and attacks on civilians. Food security A Rapid Emergency Food Security Assessment (EFSA) reveals that the most vulnerable people eat once a day and meals have become less diverse. If food remains available on most markets, the disruption of the economy makes it difficult for a growing number of populations to access this food for lack of cash. Targeted food assistance by means of cash transfer is required providing security conditions are conducive. The North western part of the country is falling into an emergency crisis and will need food aid assistance. Health Major disruption in the health system means that a majority of health structures are unable to provide access to basic care services due to lack of personnel, lack of drugs, looting and destruction of equipment. As a result there is a dramatic reduction in access to quality health care for a significant part of the population, and an increased intervention from the humanitarian health partners, in a quasi-substitution mode is now required. Nutrition Rapid surveys demonstrate that in some areas nutrition indicators are above emergency thresholds. However, the country is not facing a nutritional emergency yet. Medical organisations are able to cover most of the needs. Most cases are link to medical complications. Surveillance and early warning system need to be strengthened since the next lean season may start early Shelter and NFIs In the areas most affected by exactions such as looting, destruction of houses and where people have had to displace themselves, urgent shelter and NFIs intervention are required for the most vulnerable. Heavy rains are exacerbating shelter needs. UNHCR, UNICEF and ICRC have NFIs in stock to cover the current needs. Considering the deterioration of the context, additional stocks are needed to respond to the eventuality of new attacks. CAR refugees in DRC No particular new population movements have been reported to DRC. ACCESS / logistics: UNHAS is able to cover the entire territory. The main constraint is security. 7. On-site coordination mechanism There are regular coordination and security meetings in Bangui organized by OCHA. In addition, INGOs are coordinating their actions. Following the huge shock the Seleka crisis created on the humanitarian system in CAR (all DG ECHO partners have been victims of looting, most of them accompanied with physical violence), DG ECHO ECHO Crisis Report n 9 Central African Republic Crisis Page 4 of 5

5 has approved a project to set up a common security system for the INGOs aimed at reducing the risk faced by humanitarians by increasing their security capacity in terms of monitoring, analysis and awareness. This measure is of paramount importance to safeguard the vital humanitarian capacity in CAR and is an opportunity of reinforcing the link between INGOs and UNDSS. In addition, a position of an INGO representative is funded under this project. 8. Other information Donor list (EDRIS) (as of 18/09/2013) Year 2013 Donor Amount ECHO ,00 Estonia ,00 Finland ,00 France ,00 Germany ,00 Ireland ,00 Luxembourg ,00 Sweden Sum: ECHO Crisis Report n 9 Central African Republic Crisis Page 5 of 5