The humanitarian situation and the security conditions in the northern part of the Central African Republic remained a source of major concern to the ICRC throughout this period. People who had fled the fighting began a second year in exile, with no hope of returning to their villages soon.

Protecting people who are not or are no longer taking part in the hostilities is a main focus of the ICRC's activities in the Central African Republic. To this end, the ICRC maintained contact with arms bearers and reminded them of their obligation to spare civilians and civilian property and to treat all people under their authority humanely.

Civilian population

Thanks to its permanent presence in Paoua and Kaga Bandoro, its regular visits to the north-east and its awareness-raising sessions for arms bearers, the ICRC was able to strengthen its capacity to protect the civilian population. It also made confidential, bilateral representations in an effort to put an end to violations of international humanitarian law.

From June to September 2007, the ICRC:

• collected and documented allegations of abuses committed by arms bearers against civilians, and submitted official observations to government authorities and rebel leaders in order to prevent further abuses.

Persons deprived of their liberty

The ICRC carried out regular visits to persons detained in connection with the internal conflict in the Central Africa Republic and monitored the health and welfare of the prison population as a whole. The places of detention that it visited did not generally have the funds necessary to guarantee adequate living conditions.

From June to September 2007, the ICRC:

• conducted 20 visits to 16 permanent and temporary places of detention (18 security detainees were seen and registered for the first time);
• strove to improve sanitary conditions and access to clean water in four prisons in Bangui and various provinces (Bimbo, N'Garagba, Bossangoa and Sibut);
• paid for the construction of a room for medical consultations in two prisons in Bangui (N'Garagba, Bimbo);
• implemented, with the agreement and support of the prison administration, a project to cultivate 2.5 hectares of land at the Bossangoa prison;
• carried out one-off distributions of basic medicines and medical supplies for detainees and organized a campaign to eliminate intestinal parasites in five prisons (Bimbo, N'Garagba, Sibut, Bossangoa, Bossambélé).
  
  
  
  Assistance

In the areas hardest hit by the conflict, the ICRC carried out assistance operations designed to mitigate the effects of the fighting on the lives and health of displaced persons and host families. Following several assessments on the ground, the number of ICRC beneficiaries was set to increase from 40,000 to over 120,000. The ICRC also made plans to carry out an assessment in Vakaga prefecture in preparation for a distribution of basic supplies to residents affected by the fighting.

Economic security

Together with volunteers from the Central African Red Cross Society, the ICRC distributed vital necessities (blankets, tarpaulins, mats, hoes, kitchen implements) and farming supplies to displaced persons and host families in the north of the country.

From June to September 2007, the ICRC:

• distributed basic supplies to 72,000 people in Ouham, Ouham Pendé and Nana-Grébizi prefectures in the north of the country;
• handed out farming tools (24,514 hoes) to displaced persons in Ouham and Ouham Pendé prefectures.

Water and habitat

The ICRC pursued its activities to rehabilitate urban and rural water-supply networks, improve sanitary conditions, repair water points, promote hygiene and build or repair public and family latrines.

From June to September 2007, the ICRC:

• built 47 public latrines and 170 family latrines and rehabilitated 10 boreholes and four wells in Mbomou and Basse-Kotto prefectures;
• provided 22 hand-washing facilities in schools and health centres in Basse-Kotto and Mbomou;
• trained 30 community organizers in participatory approaches in Basse-Kotto and Mbomou.
  
  
  

The ICRC continued to provide the Central African Red Cross with technical, material and financial aid in order to strengthen its capacity to respond to the needs of vulnerable people.
From June to September 2007, the ICRC:

• supported the training of 30 new volunteers in Kaga Bandoro and 400 volunteers in the Paoua area;
• provided the prefectoral committees of Nana-Grébizi, M'Brès and Dékoa with four-wheel-drive vehicles;
• strengthened the emergency operational capacities of the prefectoral committees of Vakaga, Bamingui-Bagoran, Haute-Kotto, Kémo, Ouham and Ouham Pendé by providing them with 120 first-aid kits.
  
  
  

Under its humanitarian mandate, the ICRC strives to protect the life and dignity of war victims and to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening compliance with international humanitarian law. In the Central African Republic, the delegation concentrates on operational dissemination, especially in the areas where the ICRC is active.
From June to September 2007, the ICRC:

• held 27 sessions designed to spread knowledge of its activities and of the basic rules of international humanitarian law for 920 bearers of arms in Bangui and the areas affected by the conflict (Paoua, Kagabandoro and Birao);
• briefed 90 members of civil society and 170 teachers on its activities in the country;
• donated a collection of books on international humanitarian law to the University of Bangui;
• held a workshop to raise awareness of the rules of international humanitarian law and the ICRC's activities for 22 journalists from the national and international press.