Central African Republic Situation Report No. 52 1 CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CAR) Situation Report No. 52 (as of 14 April 2015) This report is produced by OCHA CAR in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period between 1 and 14 April 2015. The next report will be issued on or around 30 April 2015. Highlights The Transitional Government announced that the Mpoko airport IDP site will close by the end of May. The site hosts some 18,300 IDPs. Access incidents increased by 47 per cent in March, with serious assaults and threats against humanitarian staff. International NGOs temporarily suspended activities in Kabo Ouham Province due to attacks against humanitarian personnel, assets and facilities. Multi-sectoral assistance is being delivered in Kouango, Ouaka Province, following an OCHAled assessment mission. UNHCR organized family reunifications transferring 20 IDPs from the Yaloke enclave to Cameroon. 436,300 IDPs in CAR, including 43,500 in 34 sites in Bangui 13% Funding available US$79 million against the SRP 2015 requirements of $613 million 4.6 million Population CAR 2.7 million People who need assistance of Sources: OCHA, UNDSS and ACLED Situation Overview The Central African Republic s Transitional Government announced that the Mpoko airport IDP site will close by the end of May. The site hosts some 18,300 IDPs, of whom 77 per cent are from Bangui s 3rd district. The Shelter/NFI/CCCM Cluster will assist IDPs with their relocation, with the support of the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group and the Humanitarian Country Team. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will implement the return operation process. IDPs intentions of return/relocation to areas of their choice were revealed in a survey carried out by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in February. Particular attention will be given to the reintegration of IDPs in the neighbourhoods of return, but the security situation in certain neighbourhoods, such as the 3 rd district, which is where 42 per cent of IDPs wish to go, remains a major challenge. Armed attacks and thefts targeting humanitarian organizations remain a serious issue, undermining aid delivery. The number of reported access incidents increased by 47 per cent in March, with 112 reported cases, compared with 76 in February. The most prevalent incidents are attacks against personnel, assets and facilities, with serious incidents of assaults of and threats to humanitarian staff. Intercommunity conflicts and kidnapping of civilians persisted in regions including Nana-Gribizi, Ouaka, Ouham and Ombella M'poko provinces. Ongoing insecurity continued to impede humanitarian operations and humanitarian actors ability to reach affected people.
Central African Republic Situation Report No. 52 2 On 2 April, an international NGO s vehicle was ambushed by two armed men on the Ouandago (Nana Gribizi Province) road, 35 km from Kaga Bandoro. In Kabo (Ouham Province), NGOs decided to temporarily suspend their activities following a robbery incident on 1 April and IOM is now the only international organization present Hostilities between armed groups persisted in the villages of Ndenga, Gazao, Doukouma, Kako, Banziti and Blakaja (Nana Gribizi Province) since 31 March. New sites are being set up 17km, along the Kaga Bandoro-Bangui road, particularly in Yamassamba (321 households) and Yagaradji (628 households). New IDPs continue to arrive. An estimated 65 per cent of the residents of Ndomete village have fled in search of refuge. IDPs continue to arrive at the Oubi and Bissengalé sites. On 3 April, UNHCR assisted in the relocation of 13 IDPs from Yaloke enclave, Ombella Mpoko Province, to Cameroon under the family reunification process. Through this process, 20 IDPs from Yaloke have been assisted to relocate to Cameroon since 4 March. Several IDPs from the site departed on their own accord via commercial trucks escorted by MINUSCA along the Bangui-Garoua Boulai supply route to Cameroon. UNHCR and United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) will continue the family reunification process. On 10 April, one person was killed and more than 12 people were wounded when some 400 armed protesters clashed with MINUSCA forces in Kaga-Bandoro, about 350 km north of Bangui. The demonstrators accused MINUSCA of failing to stop raids by Fulani (aka Peuhl) herders into the displacement sites. Funding CAR -FUNDING : STRATEGIC RESPONSE PLAN 2015 Total : $ 612,9 Million Funded : $ 74,2 Million As of 16 April, the HRP is funded with only $79 million, or 13 per cent of the $613 million required to meet critical humanitarian needs across 12 clusters. Lack of HRP funding is expected to significantly affect the operations of some critical clusters and potentially decrease the flow of life-saving assistance. Timely reporting of contributions to FTS is key, either by e-mail to fts@un.org or through the online contribution report form at fts.unocha.org. Unmet: $ 538,7 Million Humanitarian Response Emergency Telecommunications ETC is scheduling a mission to Bambari and Bouar in mid-april. The mission s objectives include: 1) update the ETC data solution services being offered; 2) conduct preventive maintenance activities of the ETC data service infrastructure and equipment; 3) consolidate and update ETC deployed assets inventory; 4) follow up with the humanitarian community in the field regarding ETC needs; and 5) provide on-the-job training to the IT focal point on how to administer the deployed infrastructure. ETC is exploring the possibility of conducting a user VHF and HF radio training in Bambari. ETC continues to provide radio programming and IT support for the humanitarian community. All ETC information is available at: http://ictemergency.wfp.org/web/ictepr/emergencies2013/centralafrican-republic Outside of Bangui, the lack of radio operators and the security situation are hampering the fulfilment of the C- MOSS requirements for COMCENs. Planned recruitments have been delayed due to funding constraints.
Central African Republic Situation Report No. 52 3 Food Security Needs: According to the November 2014 Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), an estimated 1.5 million people are in humanitarian phase 3 (crisis and emergency phases), of whom 1.3 million are in rural areas and 210,000 in Bangui. Due to widespread insecurity, looting and slaughtering, crop production in 2014 was 58 per cent lower than the pre-crisis average, livestock numbers have declined by up to 77 per cent and the fish supply by about 40 per cent. Food reserves in rural areas are 40 to 50 per cent lower than average, and 264,000 crisis-affected households (farmers, returnees and host families) require immediate assistance. Life-saving assistance to severely food insecure people will be key in the coming months to support households prior to the lean season that, instead of August, is expected to start in coming weeks. Support to boost agriculture and emergency food production (gardening, small-livestock rearing and fish farming) will be critical to save livelihoods and reduce vulnerable families dependency on humanitarian aid. 1.2 million Vulnerable people targeted in 2015 Between 1 and 12 April, WFP distributed 339 mt of food to 62,019 people. The second voucher distribution in Yaloke is planned to start on 21 April. WFP has met with partners for a prioritization session to discuss and map out areas for intervention under the seeds-protection programme. FAO, WFP and their implementing partners continue to plan the agricultural campaign. FAO secured additional funding to assist 2,800 extra households, reaching a current total of 89,200 households targeted for the upcoming main planting season in April/May. However, there is still a gap of more than 60,000 households to reach the total target of 150,000 households. Insecurity along the roads and at distribution sites continues to represent the main constraints. The looting of trucks, particularly along certain key roads, continues to impede humanitarian access to people in need. Health Response With MSF s support, a measles-prevention campaign was organized from 24 February to 7 March in the Batangafo IDP site and neighbourhoods in the city. Over 12,540 children aged 9 months to 15 years were vaccinated. The campaign targeted 17,897 children, reaching 70 per cent. 1.4 million People targeted in 2015 About 407 cases of measles were identified in Bakouma (Mbomou Province) with seven deaths. In response, an epidemiological surveillance was strengthened. A response campaign is being prepared in coordination with MSF Belgium, the Ministry of Health and WHO. In response to the needs of thousands of IDPs in Kouango, as of 13 April, COHEB, UNICEF and WHO are supporting and ensuring the sanitary situation in the region. They are offering free health care at the Kouango health centre and in the Bangao and Goussiema areas. COHEB also supports health care in the Zoukou and Gadja areas. MSF has deployed 15 personnel (medics and logisticians) to Kouango to manage mobile clinics on the axis and ensure support to people hospitalized at the Kouango health centre. The intervention of the various partners focuses on providing primary health care; screening and support for malnutrition cases, and support to medico-surgical emergencies. Some 78 survivors of sexual violence in Kaga Bandoro have received emergency medical care since the beginning of April out of 133 identified cases during this period. Access to health-care services by the local population in Mbrès is hindered by heightened insecurity. Incidents reported include the death of a health agent at the Blakadja Health Center, leading to the closure of five health facilities and the suspension of all immunization activities in the area. More than 15,000 IDPs from Ngakobo in the Ouaka health district do not have access to health-care services. Within a week, medical teams from CAP ANAMUR and MSF were caught in attacks on the Bangui-Boali axis. The upsurge of robberies affects health activities. The need to ensure the protection of health workers and their free and unconditional access to the population is paramount. Urgent humanitarian assistance including health support is required Kouango region.
Central African Republic Situation Report No. 52 4 Logistics Several market-research projects are ongoing in public-works companies and river-transportation enterprises. This will enable potential field assessments, and it will provide information necessary to update the in-country logistics capacity and update spare parts for fleet management. A joint rehabilitation project with ACTED is under way, and bridges are being rehabilitated. Two field-level agreements have been signed with regards to the rehabilitation of bridges. The cluster will rehabilitate two bridges in Ouham-Pende Province. The Central Emergency Response Fund funds will be used to rehabilitate the bridges on the Bambari-Grimari-Kouango axis. The cluster met on 1 April to discuss problems and solutions to cargo escorts, fuel routing, common storage, various rehabilitations and information sharing. Updated information was shared on the Logistics Cluster website regarding UNHAS flights and Logistics Cluster information: http://logcluster.org/ops/caf13a Poor infrastructure and insecurity along the main roads are hampering the humanitarian logistics chain. Access to national service providers remains an issue in Bangui and the provinces. Needs: Nutrition Some 32,348 children will suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in 2015, and 78,335 children will suffer from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). These numbers could rise, given ongoing aggravating factors (displacement, food insecurity, deteriorated access to clean water and sanitation, increased morbidity and lack of health-care services). About 22,700 children suffering from SAM and 47,000 children suffering from MAM are targeted for treatment in 2015. Since 1 January 2015, 4,129 children have been admitted for SAM treatment across the country. This represents 18 per cent of the SRP target of 22,700 children suffering from SAM. Overall performance indicators remain within global standards, with an average recovery rate of 90.81 per cent (>=75 per cent), death rate of 2.45 per cent (<10 per cent). Since 1 January 2015, 8,833 new beneficiaries have been admitted to WFP s nutrition programme, including 2,346 children aged between 6 and 59 months, 4,787 PLW, 680 malnourished people living with HIV under ARV treatment and 1,020 caregivers of people suffering from SAM in health facilities. To prevent spikes in malnutrition, WFP is carrying out a large-scale integrated general food distribution and blanket feeding intervention. WFP distributes nutritious Plumpy Sup to one child under age 5 per household. The NGO AHA screened 513 children aged between 6 and 59 months in Lambi (Ombela Mpoko Province) on the 6 April. Findings revealed 65 MAM cases and 63 SAM cases. Some 13 health workers received training in Berberati (Nambere-Kadei prefecture) on the revised protocols of integrated management of acute malnutrition, including HIV/AIDS issues. INSTERSOS s project to treat malnourished children in the Ouham-Pende Province has been approved for CHF funding. Gaps & Constraints: Coverage of community-based management of acute malnutrition services outside of Bangui remains low due to security constraints and destroyed health facilities. The integration of acute nutrition management into the national health system needs to be strengthened. There is a gap in the provision of activities to support appropriate infant and young-child feeding General Coordination
Central African Republic Situation Report No. 52 5 Findings of an OCHA-led joint mission to Kouango, Ouaka Province, from 26 to 28 March, revealed the presence of some 6,200 IDPs, and 58 villages burned on the Pende, Lioto, Bianga axes, from where all residents have fled, includingmore than 30,000 to neighbouring DRC. Malnutrition, WASH, NFIs, access to health and food were noted as the most critical needs of IDPs and spontaneous returnees. Poor road conditions and damaged bridges are a major hindrance to humanitarian access. Following this mission, assistance is progressively being provided to affected people. OCHA plans to open a sub-office in Kouango to ensure effective monitoring and coordination of the humanitarian situation. Between 7 and 10 April, an OCHA assessment was undertaken with all relevant humanitarian actors in Kaga Bandoro (Nana-Gribizi Province), including national and international NGOs, UN agencies, uniformed and civilian actors, in order to establish a civil-military coordination framework. OCHA led a joint inter-agency assessment mission to Markounda (Ouham Province) from 9 to 11 April. The main findings revealed that due to the presence of armed groups, insecurity persists in the region. About 3,355 returnees do not have access to health-care services or potable water, and only 11 schools out of 43 are operational. UNICEF distributed school kits and rehabilitation kits for damaged water points to the local people. A response plan is being prepared for the region. Recurrent clashes between armed groups in Bria (Haute Kotto Province) led to population displacements and paralyzed economic activities. OCHA carried out a mission in the region from 9 to 11 April to monitor the humanitarian situation. The mission s findings revealed that economic, education and health activities had resumed. The humanitarian community in Bria has set up a coordination forum with local authorities to ensure effective coordination of humanitarian activities. UNICEF distributed school and hygiene kits to schools on the Bambari and Bria axis. On 7 April, OCHA held the first monthly coordination forum with local authorities in Kaga Bandoro (Nana Gribizi Province). During the meeting, a brief presentation was made on the coordination mechanism and humanitarian response in the region. During a meeting on 9 April, civil-military coordination issues and the respect of humanitarian principles were discussed. Background on the crisis The coup by the coalition known as Seleka in March 2013, which ousted President Francois Bozize after a 10-year rule, plunged CAR into a cycle of escalating violence. In April 2013, Michel Djotodia was recognized as the transitional head of Government at a regional summit in N'Djamena. He resigned in January 2014 and was replaced by Catherine Samba- Panza, but the conflict continued. Security conditions in CAR deteriorated after 5 December 2013, when clashes erupted between militants associated with the now-dissolved Séléka alliance and anti-balaka groups, composed of armed fighters that oppose ex-séléka forces. The conflict has acquired an intercommunal and sectarian dimension fuelled by both groups. In 2015, the security situation throughout CAR remains volatile, with continuing attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers. Relief agencies are working to assist conflict-affected people, but ongoing insecurity and logistics constraints impede humanitarian operations in Bangui and in more remote areas of CAR, seriously hampering aid delivery. The elections scheduled for mid-2015 could be accompanied by social unrest and violence, thus prompting even larger-scale internal population displacements. For further information, please contact: Francois Goemans, Head of Office, goemans@un.org, Tel: +236 70 73 87 30 Gemma Cortes, Public Information Officer, cortesg@un.org, Tel: +236 70 08 75 65 Laura Fultang, Public Information/Reports Officer, fultangl@un.org, Tel: +236 70 18 80 64 For more information, please visit www.unocha.org/car or reliefweb.int