UNICEF URGENTLY REQUIRES US$ 4.9 MILLION TO ADDRESS PRIORITY NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH, WES, PROTECTION AND EDUCATION
- 1 million people affected by an escalating conflict, with 212,000 IDPs
- Up to 75% of children are currently out of school in the northern regions
- Human rights violations continue to occur - including kidnappings, rape and the use of child soldiers
- One in five children dies before the age of five
- The 2007 appeal is currently funded at only 33%
1. ISSUES FOR CHILDREN
The Central African Republic is suffering from a multi-faceted crisis. Located right at the heart of the African continent, this forgotten country has endured more than a decade of armed conflict. The worst affected regions are located in the northeast and northwest of the country where rebel forces and government troops clash frequently. The continuing waves of violence have created mass displacement and the complete decimation of public infrastructure. As of June 2007, 290,000 people have been forcibly displaced; 212,000 of these have remained in CAR, in many cases living in the bush, and a further 78,000 have been displaced into neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and the Sudan. In return CAR has received thousands of refugees from Chad and the Sudan. For example UNICEF is currently helping to support the 2,700 Sudanese refugees who arrived in the town of Sam Ouandja, northeastern CAR in May.
The deterioration of CAR's already poor Human Development Ranking over the past few years (172 out of 177 countries) helps highlight the severity of the situation and the complete lack of basic social services. This situation is of great concern to UNICEF as the majority of people affected by the conflict are women and children. Maternal mortality rates are amongst the highest on the continent (1,355 per 100,000) and approximately one in five children dies before reaching his or her fifth birthday. Chronic malnutrition affects 38% of children, whilst one in ten suffers from the acute variety. A third of the population completely lack access to safe water and sanitation facilities, a situation which is particularly grave for the IDPs who have been forced to reside in the bush. School enrolment remains low. A recent UNICEF Rapid Assessment study showed that more than 75% of children were out of school in Ouham and Ouham Pendé, two of the worst affected regions in north-western CAR. Child soldiers are still widely used in many areas, particularly in the northwest. The situation in the northeast has improved somewhat, following UNICEF's initiation of the release of 450-550 children from the rebel armed forces this month in Gordil, a significant step towards improving children's rights in the region. Violations continue to occur countrywide however, for example as kidnappings of minors by armed bandits continue in the northwest. Attacks on humanitarian personnel have also increased in their severity over the past few months. This combined with the dispersal of the population makes it both costly and difficult to reach those who are most in need.
UNICEF urgently requires further resources in order to help the women and children who are currently enduring this complex emergency.
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