Central African Republic: the humanitarian community is concerned about the government's decision to close the M’Poko airport site for internally displaced persons on 15 September

(Bangui, 02 September, 2015): On 28 August, during a meeting convened by the Minister of Social Affairs, Promotion of Gender and Humanitarian Action, attended by the Minister of Transport and civil aviation, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Government announced its decision to proceed with the closure of the M'Poko site for internally displaced persons (IDPs) as of 15 September; the main reason being to enable the construction of a wall around the airport.

This information was discussed during the humanitarian country team meeting held on 01 September and the members reiterated their position on the following points:

• While recognizing the Government's responsibility to secure a public place such as the M'Poko International Airport, the humanitarian community reiterates the need to favor a solution that ensures voluntary returns rather than forceful eviction. Based on this standpoint, for several months now the humanitarian community has committed to work with the government to support returns by providing an “assistance package”. Several activities were undertaken over the past few months including: the registration of households (including the most vulnerable), identification of preferred return solutions, fundraising, setting-up a “return package” which includes: money, two-month food rations and nonfood items such as treated mosquito nets and tarpaulins.

• The vast majority of IDPs at the M’poko site opted to return, either to the neighborhoods where they lived prior to the crisis, or to neighborhoods with relative security. Considering that security emerged as one of the most important concerns of IDPs, the humanitarian community advocated to the government and MINUSCA for improved security in the identified areas for returns.

• The humanitarian community also identified vulnerable people with special needs and requiring targeted return assistance. This group includes unaccompanied children, child-headed households, disabled people, people with serious and chronic illnesses and the elderly.

• The humanitarian community stresses the serious consequences that a forceful eviction could have particularly in the deterioration of the already fragile security situation around the M’Poko site and in Bangui.

• Beyond the security aspects, the humanitarian community recalls that a forceful eviction could increase the vulnerability of IDPs and reminds the CAR government of its obligation with regards to the ratified Kampala Convention on the rights of IDPs.

• The humanitarian community calls on all stakeholders concerned (the government, bilateral and multilateral partners and representatives of the IDP community) to prioritize dialogue in order to reach a feasible solution that ensures the protection and dignity of displaced people while maintaining security on the M’Poko site and in the neighborhoods of returns.