Inter-agency Mission to Birao (CAR)

Inter-agency Mission to Birao (CAR) 16 to 23 January 2007 1. This preliminary short report will cover the first leg of this mission, which left Bangui on 16 January and arrived in Birao on 23 January. A second leg covers the return from Birao to Bangui and is still ongoing. The list of the participating Agencies to the first leg included BONUCA (Human Rights Section), FAO (Food security), HCR (Protection), UNFPA (SGBV), WHO (Health) and were accompanied by DSS, IRIN and OCHA, which organized and led the mission. Although several sectors were represented, the mission paid specific attention to protection issues in order to develop a stronger strategy in this specific sector. A sectoral report will be produced by each participating agency. This report was prepared by an OCHA staff member on mission to CAR. I Route of the mission 2. The following route was used: Bangui, Sibut, Kaga Bandoro (day 1), Ouandago and return to Kaga Bandoro (day 2), Ndele (day 3), Gunda (day 4), Gordil (day 5), Tiringula, Boromata (day 6) and Birao (day 7). The itinerary crossed areas beyond the control of the government and required specific contacts to ensure the safety of the members of the mission. Local authorities were kept fully informed of our movement (Ordre de mission signed by Gendarmerie) and even advised the mission on the most suitable routes for vehicles in areas they no longer controlled. OCHA Central African Republic 1

II Objectives of the inter-agency mission 3. The objectives of the mission were two-fold: assess the humanitarian needs of the civilian population in the frontline zones and secure an access through rebel held territories in the North East to assist the civilian population if required. This second objective also carried a strong message for the population living in Bamingui Bangoran and Vakaga prefectures, neglected over the past years on the basis of being sparsely populated. III Security 4. For safety reasons, the mission had to establish contact with several interlocutors who would be on the road prior to departure. From Gordil to Boromata, the mission was accompanied by one car in order to show the way (routes were often non existent). Reportedly, roads had to be opened for the mission, although no mines or mine injuries were ever reported in the region. UFDR has accompanied the mission on this stretch of the trip. However they stressed that after this first mission, forces would be used to the presence of UN humanitarians in this area and their accompanying movements would not be required any longer. The use of pisteur will however be highly recommended for missions in this area in the future (tracks being often washed away), unless our drivers will feel sufficiently comfortable to find their ways. 5. Fuel is not available on the way and the necessary arrangements must be made to cover the distance from Bangui. During the whole trip, no radio contact could be established with Bangui and this issue is now being resolved. OCHA Dakar has followed the mission part of the way and Thurayas were our means of communication with Bangui. Iridium system used by DSS was not functional part of the way. IV Context 6. The country suffers from three layers of violence. A tradition of coupeurs de routes (highway men) threatens the movement of persons and goods in governmental held areas in the west, an insurgency based around Paoua area (APRD) destabilizes the North and a more structured armed group (UFDR) attacked several cities in the east before being stopped by military intervention. The mission essentially witnessed the dire consequences of the violence in the east of the country. More scarcely populated than the rest of the country, this eastern part has, according to several civilians interviewed, been neglected since the end of Bokassa s era. The grievances expressed referred to a lack of public services going back to several years. In Boromata for instance, schools and health posts had been closed 5 years ago. In several of the villages crossed during the trip between Boromata and Birao, schools had only their structures remaining, walls were removed. Not a single sign of a UN project has been seen over 680 km between Kaga Bandoro and Birao, including in more populated areas such as Ndele. 7. Resentment was expressed by both combatants and civilians against the French presence in the area. The civilians were particularly scared by alleged low altitude village over flights of Jaguar fighter planes. This was repeated in several interviews held without any military presence in several villages along the stretch between Gordil and Boromata. The villagers also informed the mission that it was one of the reasons OCHA Central African Republic 2

why they did not dare to return to their homes and preferred to stay in the bush. It is important to underline that the mission witnessed no such flights. 8. In Ndele, the mayor ad interim and the Gendarmerie Commander were very cooperative and helpful in advising the mission on distances and routes to follow to Birao. The open discussions we had with these authorities, corroborated by those with the priest of the Mission, led the team to believe that a successful crossing to Birao would strongly contribute to diffuse the tension within the population in Ndele. Those remaining in town did not actually know whether to flee or stay. The return of our convoy through Ndele would have carried a disastrous message. V Route narrative 5.1 Kaga Bandoro-Ouandago 9. The situation continues to be as bad as ever. In town, the inter-agency mission had a meeting with the préfet who alleged he could not maintain law and order, especially over what appears to be FACA and GP. He confirmed the summary execution on 5th January of two youngsters suspected to be insurgents in the centre of the market of Kaga Bandoro. The summary execution took place in front of the population and the FACA paraded over the bodies, taking pictures. The bodies remained on the ground until the Red Cross came to retrieve them several hours later. Kids on their way back from school saw the bodies and were shocked. According to the préfet, no judiciary action has bee initiated for fear of being threatened or killed. The two victims were aged 27 and 22, were from Kaga Bandoro and the prefet recognized that their affiliation with the rebellion was not established. A FOMUC officer reportedly witnessed the execution on his way to the airport and had a tense discussion with the FACA officer in charge of the shooting squad. Insurgents (incl. child soldiers) guarding the entrance to their territory. 10. Elements wearing FACA uniforms walk in town armed, often in civilian clothes and without control, a behaviour, which led to another tragedy the evening of our arrival (16 January) when a drunken soldier unintentionally discharged his gun and wounded a OCHA Central African Republic 3

young student, who died from his wounds later in the night. The soldier was arrested and reportedly transferred to Bangui. Destroyed settlement north of Kaga-Bandoro. 11. According to civilians and village chiefs interviewed on the way between Kaga Bandoro and Ouandago on 17 January, some 2,000 houses have been burnt since the insurgency started, leaving an estimated number of 10,000 civilians without shelter and essentially depending on distribution made by humanitarians. Usually, the forces shoot in the air to scare the population, houses once empty are looted, and the forces then set the village ablaze. All burnt houses are visibly empty and no charred items can be found. The loot is loaded in trucks and brought back to the base according to several interviews conducted with victims. This pattern is similar to Darfur although it could be argued that the intentions are different. Villagers who abandoned their houses and took refuge in the bush. OCHA Central African Republic 4

12. When asked how to rate their needs, the persons we discussed with mentioned as primary concern the lack of security, the lack medical care, difficult conditions in the bush because of the cold, lack of education and danger to access the town for economic exchange. In the near future, insufficient reserves of seeds and limited supplies of tools will become a serious issue since many crops were destroyed during the fighting and granaries set afire. In terms of conflict mitigation, village chiefs declared they tried to convince the rebels to avoid coming to their villages for fear of reprisal by FACA, with limited success. Villagers who abandoned their houses and took refuge in the bush. 5.2 Ndele (200 km from Kaga Bandoro, 5,223 before the events) 13. A third of the residents are reportedly back in town. The first discussion held by the inter-agency mission in Ndele took place with the acting préfet and the Sultan s senior adviser, in the absence of the Sultan himself. Other authorities were also briefed on our mission (CC, FACA Commander who just escaped from a mutiny and Police judiciaire). The city is beyond the last frontier. The hospital is not functional (no consultation on 19 January), the market is open a couple of hours only and the evident signs of the attack still remain visible. Soldiers wearing civilian clothes walk around in the streets without any purpose, drinking what is left or available in town. Incidents with rogue FACA soldiers are reported on a daily basis. All local authorities have highlighted their sense of abandonment by Bangui. 14. The sultan s adviser was particularly worried about the whereabouts of Gulas communities (an ethnic group often associated with the rebels) residing in 4 villages in the vicinity of Ndele who escaped to the bush and were afraid to come back after the rebellion attacked Ndele on 27 November. The court of the Sultan had already made several appeals to this population to come back, but to no avail. Another serious allegation was heard later on (in Ndifa, west of Gordil) concerning the targeting of the Gula community. All Gula students (most of them from Ouandja commune) attending school in Ndele had reportedly been expelled and gone back on foot towards Tiroungoulou. To do so, they (willingly or not?) joined the rebels after the attack. According to the préfet ai, 18 civilians forcibly enrolled by the rebellion during the attack of Ndele died, although he did not associate these civilians with the students. OCHA Central African Republic 5

15. The majority of the population of Ndele still takes cover in the fields, expecting the return of the rebellion any time. Security Forces in Ndele cannot provide any sort of protection and the behaviour of FACA does not reassure the population. The looting of the town, according to the authorities, had not been perpetrated by the rebels (who reportedly requested some shops to open and paid for their goods) but by some residents. Armed civilian in the North East. 5.3 Gunda campement (195 km from Ndele, 9 staff) 16. Gunda is a former resort for hunters, looted by Chadian armed groups following the events in Am Tinman (Chad). No population was seen along this stretch of the road Burned houses and granaries. 5.4 Gordil (89 km from Gunda, 1,300 inhabitants originally, according to Mayor) 17. The itinerary crossed the natural reserve of Saint Joris, no population. The dirt road crosses two large rivers, one just at the exit of Gunda and another one at the entrance of Gordil. Bridges are destroyed and water crossing was possible in the dry season. OCHA Central African Republic 6

The city of Gordil is empty although residents who live on their fields may come to Gordil to fetch water (one pump in function) although Vakaga River is the primary source used by the population. River crossing next to a destroyed bridge. 18. The members of the rebellion the inter-agency met in Gordil included somebody referred to as a general. Apparently, one of the triggers of the rebellion is grievances expressed by the rebellion that Bangui has abandoned Vakaga and that communities are not protected from incursions from Sudan or Chad. Funds promised by Sudan to the region to compensate for damages perpetrated by Sudanese poachers and cattle herders were, reportedly, embezzled by Bangui authorities during the last electoral campaign. Abandoned health post west of Gordil. 5.5 Tiroungoulou (79 km from Gordil, 1,900 inhabitants) 19. On the way to Tiroungoulou, the inter-agency mission stopped in Ndiffa and Madao. Along this road, credible allegations made by civilians (interviewed without presence of armed men) concerning reported regular low over flights by fixed-wing and OCHA Central African Republic 7

other aircraft. The inter-agency mission met with a student who survived an alleged helicopter attack on 29 November on the old road linking Ndele to Tiroungoulou and Birao in Vakaga Maraï. According to this allegation, a group of 20 students were shot at and 3 only survived. The surviving student has an infected bullet wound in the ankle and was examined by a WHO medical doctor. The conversation with the villagers became tense when we asked further details and had to be suspended, a common syndrome of the victim not being trusted. In Tiroungoulou (all population living in the field), one section of the village called Canada was extensively damaged (55 houses burned or destroyed) following operations allegedly by GP in May 2006 following the landing of the plane in Gordil. A market usually takes place on Saturday but traders moving on bicycles were selling small items the day of our visit. Destroyed and deserted school between Kaga-Bandoro and Ndélé. 5.6 Boromata (89 km from Tiroungoulou, 4,000 inhabitants according to villagers) 20. Boromata was reached after crossing north of Tiroungoulou until we reached the road Boromata-Birao and we moved west. The town was empty when we arrived but villagers came rapidly to see us. Teachers and medical personnel informed the mission that schools (Boromata and Zanzir, 400 pupils) and the medical post have been closed for the last 5 months. The villagers are scared by reportedly regular low altitude French fighter jets flights (last one reportedly on Saturday 20.01.06) and all remain in the field. They were also astonished to see UFDR since they are rarely in Boromata. 21. The general conditions of the population along the route were of extreme poverty and the present displacement in the bush was an additional burden and danger to their health because of the cold at night. Access to fields was generally possible but more limited due to the conflict. Availability of staple crops is extremely reduced due to conflict situation, which impacted on harvesting, storage, management of reserves for seeds and loss of tools. OCHA Central African Republic 8

VI Deteriorating conditions of living due to displacement. Deteriorating health conditions due to additional hardship in an environment where health systems were already inadequate. Access to functioning water pumps difficult, water born disease potentially on the increase. Movement of persons and goods (access to markets) impossible. Serious protection crisis due to difficult monitoring of armed groups and official security forces behaviour. Lack of any sign of development in a large area of the country. Lack of basic services over the last years (health, education, security). Only one NGO in the north east. Recommendations 1. All UN movements from Ndele towards Birao and from Ouadda to the north should be notified for the moment. OCHA has established and will, for the time being, need contact with non-state actors on the ground. 2. An immediate humanitarian sectoral response (food security, health, water, education and protection should be implemented according to findings of participating agencies) 3. Immediate assistance to hospitals in Ndele and Birao recommended by WHO. 4. Vaccination campaign recommended in the Vakaga prefecture beyond Birao. 5. UN presence to be established in the north east (location TBC). 6. Increased presence of NGOs in the north east. 7. In case of a more than likely deployment of DPKO, ensure joint planning so that both Peace keeping and humanitarian/early recovery actions complete each other. OCHA Central African Republic 9