Humanitarian response in the Central African Republic still underfunded

Yaounde, 6 October 2017 - The humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic remains a cause for concern due to the persistent deterioration of the security climate since the beginning of 2017. The support of the international community has, however, enabled humanitarian actors to respond to the most critical and urgent needs in several hotspots. However, the resurgence of violence has generated additional needs that were not anticipated in the Humanitarian Response Plan.

At a briefing session on the humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic, held in Yaounde, Cameroon on 6 October 2017, the Humanitarian Coordinator Najat Rochdi thanked donors whose contributions to the Humanitarian Response Plan led to the effective and rapid response to the several crises that are regularly plaguing Central African Republic. Ms. Rochdi particularly commended "the additional contributions received recently, notably from Japan, DFID and the Netherlands, which were a stitch in time at a moment when concurrent crises challenged the operational capacities of humanitarian actors."

However, she reiterated the appeal to the international community to invest more so as to avoid "the worst scenario", such as a large-scale humanitarian crisis that will affect the entire region. The current indicators are similar to those that existed between 2013 and 2014 at the peak of the crisis. Today, 600 000 people are internally displaced and 513 666 are refugees in neighboring countries. These are the highest levels ever reached since 2013. To date, the population in need has grown from 2.2 at the beginning of the year to 2.4 million.

The 2017 Revised Humanitarian Response Plan (RHP) of $ 497.3 million was only funded as at 30 September to the tune of $ 148.5 million, say 30% of the needs expressed. With a shortfall of $ 348.8 million, say 70% of unmet needs, the assistance that half the Central African population needs is severely compromised. New contributions to the Humanitarian Response Plan will give "a chance for hundreds of thousands of people to meet their urgent needs and thus promote the reconstruction of their lives and their country," underscored Ms. Rochdi. Indeed, humanitarian action covering the most critical needs would gradually strengthen the resilience of the communities. "It is only at this price that the country will emerge from the vicious circle of crises," added the Humanitarian Coordinator.

Advocacy for the financing of the Humanitarian Response Plan is intended to "lift the population from poverty and vulnerability". It also seeks to provide better protection for the civilian population targeted by armed groups. Finally, it indisputably contributes to "accompanying the wishes of peace of the majority of fellow Central Africans".

In this purview, after Yaounde, Najat Rochdi announced that she will undertake an international tour to "raise awareness of the current plight in the Central African Republic" and urge her not to forget this country.

For more information, please contact OCHA CAR
Joseph Inganji, Head of Office, +236 70738730, inganji@un.org
Yaye Nabo Séne, Chief, Public Information + 236 70 08 75 65, seney@un.org
Press releases are available on www.unocha.org or www.reliefweb.int