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The ICRC in Central African Republic
29-10-2010 Overview
In the Central African Republic (CAR), the ICRC protects and assists people affected by armed conflict or other situations of violence, providing emergency aid, carrying out livelihood-support projects and rehabilitating water and sanitation facilities. It also visits detainees, restores family links for people separated by conflict, and promotes IHL among various actors.
The ICRC opened a delegation in the Central African Republic (CAR) in 2007 in the context of the non-international armed conflict in the north of the country, but has carried out activities in the CAR since 1983.
Despite an all-inclusive political dialogue launched in December 2008, the situation in the CAR remains volatile. Security conditions have deteriorated in parts of the north and east. Since August 2009, the ICRC has been assisting people affected by violence in Haut M'Bomou prefecture following incursions by the Lord's Resistance Army.
The ICRC has boosted its presence and activities to provide assistance and protection to victims of the continuing armed violence which started at the end of 2005. In addition to its delegation in Bangui, the organization has three sub-delegations in Paoua, Kaga-Bandoro and Birao, in the north.
The ICRC visits people held in various places of detention and documents alleged incidents of abuse committed against civilians by bearers of weapons. It restores links between family members separated by the violence.
The organization distributes basic household items, food and seed to vulnerable people, notably civilians displaced by fighting, and provides training to enhance their capacity to produce crops and rear livestock. To improve access to water and sanitation, the ICRC drills and repairs wells, protects water points, builds latrines and familiarizes the population with basic hygiene.
The ICRC promotes international humanitarian law among various target groups, including the national authorities, bearers of weapons, civil society and community leaders. It supports the Central African Red Cross Society’s programmes for emergency preparedness, the restoration of family links and the promotion of humanitarian principles.
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