Consolidated Appeal targets US$ 134 million for aid in the Central African Republic

(Bangui/Geneva/New York, 17 February 2012) The Central African Republic is one of the lowest profile humanitarian crises on the African continent. Today the Government and humanitarian partners launched the Central African Republic Consolidated Appeal in Bangui, consisting of 105 projects spanning 12 months to save lives and reduce the vulnerability of people affected by conflict. The Appeal urgently requests US$ 134 million, of which US$ 20 million will be allocated to immediate priority projects.

Reaching the needs of the people will be a challenge without adequate funding. “Over the past two years, the Central African Republic has received less than 50% funding for its Consolidated Appeals. This low rate is of great concern to the humanitarian community particularly due to persisting needs. I therefore urge the international community to increase their financial support to the Central African Republic by funding projects in the 2012 Consolidated Appeal,” said Dr. Zakaria Maïga, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator Ad Interim in the Central African Republic. Funding will ensure that multi-sectorial assistance is provided to some 19,867 refugees, 94,386 internally displaced people (of which 21,500 people were newly displaced in 2012) and 71,601 returnees and the communities that host them.

Despite years of humanitarian assistance, the Central African Republic remains fragile, with ongoing violence threatening the resilience of an already weak population. After extensive discussion and analysis of the complex situation, humanitarian actors have agreed on two strategic objectives to guide their response: 1) Ensure that people affected by conflict and other humanitarian crisis have access to basic services and promote the respect of their fundamental human rights; and 2) Strengthen the resilience capacity of people affected by crisis and support their empowerment.

According to Jean Sébastien Munié, Head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Central African Republic, “Most humanitarian actors describe the crisis as a forgotten emergency which is worsened by insufficient funding. Due to an extremely high level of vulnerability, most incidents lead to a humanitarian crisis, requiring emergency assistance. Substantial funding is therefore crucial.”

The projects presented by United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations in the Appeal target 1.9 million beneficiaries (more than 45% of the estimated total population). The international community is therefore urged to contribute generously and quickly to alleviate suffering and reduce the vulnerability of a nation affected by sporadic armed conflicts.

For further information, please contact:
Laura Fultang, OCHA Central African Republic, fultangl@un.org, Cell +236 70188064
Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA Geneva, byrs@un.org, Tel. +4 1 22 917 2653, Cell +41 (0) 79 473 4570
Amanda Pitt, OCHA New York, pitta@un.org, Tel. +1 12 963 4129, Cell +1 917 442 1810
OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org or www.reliefweb.int