Central African Republic: Helping the return home

A young girl sits underneath a tree on the ground. A backpack can be seen placed behind her.

Reine Koutigué sits underneath a tree with her school bag, at the Baga IDP site in Batangafo, Ouham Prefecture, Central African Republic. OCHA/V. Bero

Reine Koutigué will soon celebrate her tenth birthday. She will be the same age as the Baga IDP (internally displaced persons) site in Batangafo, where she was born and still lives. Thanks to humanitarian actors’ support at the health centre set up inside the site, Reine's mother received the care she needed while pregnant with Reine and when she gave birth.

"I don't want my brothers to die. I'm going to look after them when I grow up. That's why I'd like to work in a hospital."

Reine won't blow out any candles on her birthday, or receive birthday wishes. Unfortunately, it will be a day like any other, a day where she will receive only one meal, lack access to water, overshadowed by a constant sense of fear because of living in constant crises. Reine has never lived in a traditional setting, such as the village where her parents' home was located before they were displaced.

Currently in the fourth grade, Reine dreams of a career in health care. She explained: "I don't want my brothers to die. I'm going to look after them when I grow up. That's why I'd like to work in a hospital."

Since January 2023, support has been provided by international non-governmental organizations and UN agencies. Local organizations are working in partnership with international actors to implement voluntary return projects. By providing transitional shelters, rehabilitating water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, supplying essential household items, and supporting income-generating activities for returning households, over 4,600 households in Haute-Kotto and Nana-Gribizi Prefectures, in the centre of Central African Republic (CAR) have been assisted.

Alongside the US Agency for International Development's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, the Humanitarian Fund for CAR is a key donor for this vital initial support for returnees. In 2023, the fund has disbursed more than US$2.6 million. Once resettled, returnees have other needs like the reconstruction of homes, financial assistance and protection and security, which emergency assistance cannot meet. Therefore, other partners; Oxfam, the UN Office for the High Commissioner for Refugees or UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration need to assist to help rebuild basic social services.