Central African Republic Protection Cluster Crisis Report # 4

Transcription

1 After a relative calm was observed during the last week in Bangui leading to some sites showing a decrease in numbers, the resignation of the President of the Transitional Government led to violent events from Friday afternoon to Sunday as ex- Seleka groups were dismantled and attacked by youngsters and provoked violent counter- reactions. During this time, several deadly attacks took place targeting IDP sites such as Don Bosco, Combattants and Eglise Frères Castor where more than 8 IDPs were injured and two died as a result of grenades thrown at the sites and reportedly 50 houses were burned down in the 5 th arrondissement. These events occurred despite deterrent measures such as increased patrolling and presence by MISCA and SANGARIS forces as recommended by the Protection Cluster. More generally, the United Nations reported that at least 10 persons were killed in Bangui during the weekend. John Ging, Director of the Operational Division at OCHA, arrived on 11 January in Bangui. The Protection Cluster briefed the delegation who attended the now weekly Saturday meeting held by the SRSG on relevant protection issues related to the complex security and protection situation at the Airport site as well as reconciliation and humanitarian interventions which can accompany the securisation of the 5 th arrondissement as a pilot return area of Bangui. The delegation visited the next day the Military Airport site, where several hundreds of Chadian nationals assisted by IOM are in transit as well as the Airport IDP Site, the central Mosque and the Fatima IDP Site hosting some 4,000 individuals. The mission then left for Bossangoa where they met with the IDPs committees in the two main sites, MISCA and SANGARIS as well as the local population in Zéré. The Bossangoa Protection Cluster published an evaluation report on Zéré on 10 January reporting first timid returns. John Ging confirmed the importance of assisting returns and urged for immediate action. Zéré was affected by attacks against the Muslim community leading to displacement of its population who is for the majority still displaced in the bush. In Bozoum, the security situation remains tense with road traffic being blocked due to insecurity. Reportedly, on 9 January, Seleka elements burned down houses and clashed with Anti- Balaka elements causing an unconfirmed number of deaths along the road Bozoum Bocaranga and Bozoum- Paoua. On 11 January, SANGARIS undertook a first reconnaissance mission in Bozoum to assess the security situation and start disarming Seleka elements. In Bocarango the Seleka elements agreed to be disarmed peacefully and are now regrouped in their base. In Bossangoa, the central market opened on 14 January 2014 for the first time since the prior clashes between Muslims and Christians. The market was busy with people of both communities interacting peacefully with each other, proving that the ongoing reconciliation efforts by protection partners bearing fruits. Market in Bossangoa, UNHCR/J.Zapater

2 Central African Republic Protection Cluster Crisis Report # 4 This document provides a situational update since the Crisis started on 5 December 2013 Period Covered: 7 14 January 2014 Urgent Humanitarian Needs SRP 2014 Protection Cluster With new violence erupting, the community divide along religious lines seems to deepen further. Reconciliation initiatives are ongoing but need to be extended to ensure an outreach to rural areas where violent attacks from Seleka or Anti- Balaka elements continue being reported. Furthermore, looting and robbery increase as police and gendarmerie are still absent and that MISCA and Sangaris are ill- equipped to deal with it. People in need: People targeted: 2,2 Mio. Requirements: 40,1 Mio. USD (14,9 Mio priority) 100 Days Humanitarian Action Plan The Multi- sectoral initial rapid assessment report highlights information provided by key informants with regards to incidence affecting communities; according to these estimates: Men are mostly affected by violence (37%), summary executions and murder (27% and 26% respectively); similar estimates were provided for boys indicating violence (28%), summary executions (26%) and murder (19%); 1,4 Mio. People targeted: Requirements: 1,3 Mio. 16,8 Mio. USD CERF funding 1,5 Mio. USD 1 Women are estimated to be mostly affected by rape (44%) and violence (36%); a similar estimate was provided for girls: rape (40%), violence (23%) and summary execution (6%). Mental health services including psychosocial support for SGBV survivors and children affected by the conflict is scarce. Some few certified psychologists are currently in country to provide assistance and/or build the capacity of local partners. Partners have scaled up their assistance in Bangui IDPs sites; however, the capacity is by large not sufficient to respond to existing needs in particular in rural areas. Given the continued reports of unaccompanied minors there is a need to develop and establish a clear referral system; this is made complex by the situation on the ground the variations in response capacity and availability of services to respond from site to site. Response need to be scaled up and training in key aspects of child protection response for members of the sub- cluster as well as site facilitators will need to be carried out. Cluster Response On 8 January a working meeting with the mayor, the French Ambassador, the SANGARIS general and the Deputy Commander of the MISCA force took place to identify needs of the community as well as to identify three safe haven sites where persons feeling threatened could spend the night. However, following Friday s violence that led to the displacement of the Mayor himself, the Joint Distribution at the Airport Site. UNHCR/B.Ntwari For further information, please contact: Philippe Leclerc, Leclerc@unhcr.org

3 implementation of the plan was suspended until the situation improves. A dashboard on population movements and a detailed list of IDP sites which is updated on a weekly basis are available at the Humanitarian response Info Website under Protection Cluster. Terms of Reference for the Commission Mouvement de Population responsible for the analysis and validation of displacement figures are being finalized. On 10 January, a rapid assessment mission was conducted by the Bossangoa Protection Cluster and OCHA in Zéré and Bongboto villages (on Bossangoa- Bouca axis). More than 2,000 families from these two villages are displaced in the bushes and are living in dire conditions. Displaced people have suffered from attacks from ex- Seleka elements and armed groups from the Peuhl communities. Since end of December, 120 households and 362 heads of households returned to Bongboto and Zéré, respectively. The Cluster will engage in reconciliation activities with these communities. In close collaboration with the CCCM cluster and DRC, UNFPA is setting up an alert system to ensure that SGBV survivors receive medical assistance within 72hrs to prevent STS/HIV/Aids. The following results were already achieved: several rape survivors benefited from medical assistance either at a medical center, or the newly appointed UNFPA midwife dedicated to the mobile SRH clinic. On January 9th 2014, the GBV sub- cluster held its first meeting in 2014 convened under the leadership of UNFPA and Mercy Corps as co- lead. 25 participants representing various organizations and agencies attended the meeting which focused on: (i) actions taken by organizations, (i) the GBV mapping of actors and interventions, (iii) identification of gaps and first analysis and (iv) the way forward, (v) the setting up of a functional network of 10 focal points and health care facilities as a backup mechanism of the existing referral pathway. Specific interventions and activities for ensuring a strengthened protection monitoring of medical sites are already under discussion and synergies with the Health Cluster for enhancing the prevention of HIV/AIDS/ STM diseases are currently being developed. A total of 184 of unaccompanied and separated children have now been identified, and verified by UNICEF since 5th December in Bangui. The GBV sub- cluster and the Child Protection sub- cluster are currently studying the commonalities for developing a joint referral pathway between GBV and CP. UNICEF, together with the Minister of DDR, and representatives of BINUCA and MISCA have visited 5 of the 14 military cantonments of Bangui, and started the process of identification and demobilization of boys and girls associated with armed forces and armed groups. 26 children have been registered so far (3 girls and 23 boys) aged 9 to 17 in 3 military barracks. However, the verification and release process were halted due to security reasons. UNICEF has also been referred 5 boys aged 14 to 17 years identified by the SANGARIS forces during their operations on 11 January in Bangui. There are 12 Child Friendly Spaces in Bangui, and 19 planned; 3 in Bossangoa, 2 in Kaga Bandora with 1 mobile team, and 2 planned for Bouar. UNICEF is in the process of establishing 109 integrated spaces in 16 sites linking Education, Child Protection and Nutrition/Health activities in an integrated program. The Child Protection Sub- Cluster has established two working groups: 1) To establish a system of identification, tracing and reunification for UASC and standardize tools; and 2) To map CFSs, review the criteria for site

4 selection, and develop standard operating procedures for both CFS and ETAPES in coordination with members of the Education Cluster. SCI has started a partnership with le Réseau des Journalistes pour le droits de l homme (RJDH) who have begun an awareness campaign on the prevention of separation and psychosocial first aid. The campaign will take place over the course of the month of January and be based on the key messages developed and endorsed by the Child Protection Sub- Cluster. Cluster Achievements Against the 100 Day Plan Protection USD 16.8M required for 1,300,000 people for the Protection and CCCM Clusters 1 Objectives Achievement to date 1. Promote initiatives to integrate protection into the design and implementation of responses. The Protection Cluster Coordinator participates in inter- cluster meetings and advocates for the integration of protection considerations in strategies developed by the Clusters in CAR. He also gave presentation during the SRSG- led meetings on the airport site which now takes place every Saturday morning. The Coordinator also briefs the HCT on IDP updated figures each week. The securization plan for the Airport site and areas of origin is guided by protection principles as included by the Protection Cluster. 2. Strengthen the monitoring system. Partners have started implementing the protection monitoring projects under the CERF funding for the identified priority areas of Ouham, Ouham- Pende The ongoing review of the current monitoring system will lead to the harmonization of approaches and larger coverage. A specific intake form, designed to capture information needed to provide statistics on GBV, MRM 1612 and general protection incidents will be finalized in the next days. 3. Prevent and end the recruitment and use of children in armed groups. 4. Establish women/child friendly spaces. 5. Update and widely disseminate referral pathways for GBV. 6. Provide GBV coordination support at national and subnational levels. 7. Strengthen the cluster s information management capacity. 8. Monitor the dynamics and size of the spontaneous sites, and population movements in and outside sites. A UNICEF MRM 1612 Specialist arrived in Bangui to help set up the reporting and identification mechanism for the Security Council Reporting There are currently several Child Friendly Spaces set up in Bangui s spontaneous sites and in other areas namely, Sibut, Bambari- Grimari, Kaga- Bandora- Mbres; more capacities are needed to address the urgent needs The GBV referral pathway for Bangui has been published, focal points for SGBV on specific sites have been identified and the sub- cluster is currently working on finalizing the referral pathway for other locations A national GBV sub- cluster coordinator is deployed to provide support to the sub- cluster A P3 Information Management Officer is deployed since 17 th December 2013 by the Global Protection Cluster to provide support to the cluster and sub- clusters The MIRA report validated by the HC on 12 January was published officially on 13 th January, indicating Protection as one of the main priorities in terms of needs. For the exercise the Protection Cluster trained the staff on protection principles and referrals for protection cases A harmonized 3W format for all clusters has been finalized through the Information Management Working Group with considerable contributions by the Protection Cluster ensuring that age and gender disaggregated information is collected Trends on displacements figures are validated on a weekly basis by the Commission Mouvement de Population. The ToR for the Commission Mouvement de Population have been circulated for final comments. 1 The inclusion of CCCM activities under the Protection Cluster is due to the fact that during the finalization of the Plan the CCCM cluster was not yet activated.

5 9. Strengthen interaction with BINUCA's human rights section. 10. Liaise with the civil- military coordination mechanism and MISCA. 11. Increase the resilience of communities to prevent sectarian conflicts. 12. Activate protection working groups in all affected areas where coordination function is necessary due to the number of partners. Given the centrality of protection, the Protection Cluster Coordinator participates regularly as only cluster in regular Saturday meetings on the airport chaired by the SRSG. During a visit of a delegation composed of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Children and Armed Conflict, the Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide and the Special Representative of the Secretary- General on Sexual Violence in Conflict December, the Sub- Clusters on Child Protection and GBV highlighted major gaps and achievements in the current response The Protection Cluster now provides direct protection responses to IDPs in partnership with OCHA civil- military coordination focal point by alerting SANGARIS and MISCA to attacks and identifying sensitive locations such as child friendly spaces in need of physical protection. The Protection Cluster regularly participates in Tuesday Civil- military coordination meetings. The Protection Cluster played a key role in seeking the cooperation of MISCA and the SANGARIS forces with regard to the assistance plan for IDPs at the Airport Site Several activities are being conducted in particular in Bossangoa and Bangui using radio messages, workshops, and interaction with the community to spread messages of hope and reconciliation The Protection Cluster is led by UNHCR, with a co- facilitation agreement with the Danish Refugee Council. It also has a sub- cluster for child protection led by UNICEF and Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) and a sub- cluster for SGBV led by UNFPA and Mercy Corps. The sub- national Protection Cluster in Bossangoa was recently activated and met for the first time on 6 January. The Cluster planned its first training for humanitarian partners on IDP guiding principles this week and carried out his first assessment mission along the Bouca- Bossangoa axis. The mission report was published widely and as a result, a first NFI distribution is planned for IDPs in the axis as requested in the report.