Statement on behalf of the Humanitarian Coordinator a.i in the Central African Republic Barbara Shenstone

Bangui, 10 March, 2014: The Humanitarian Coordinator a.i in the Central African Republic Ms Barbara Shenstone condemns in the strongest terms the killing, on 8 March in Ndele, of a staff member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). She extends her deepest condolences to the family of the victim and his colleagues and friends in ICRC.

“I am appalled by the senseless murder of another humanitarian worker”, says Barbara Shenstone. “I urge parties to refrain from violence against all civilians, including humanitarian workers. Too many ordinary innocent people are dying and suffering in this pointless violence.” The HC a.i also urged all parties to the conflict to respect the principles and rules of International Humanitarian and Human Rights laws.

Since September 2013, eight aid workers have been killed as a result of attacks by armed militias. Acts of violence, lootings, carjacking and security incidents against aid workers and assets have multiplied in the past months jeopardizing on-going life-saving operations. Just last week, two international NGOs either suspended their activities or recalled most of their staff in Ndele and Bocaranga in the northern-western parts of the country.

Continued insecurity and extreme violence have plunged the Central African Republic in a deep humanitarian crisis forcing hundreds of thousands of people out of their homes. The situation has become so dire that 700,000 people remain displaced across the country. To save their lives, men, women and children sleep in the bush, in displacement sites, sometimes in appalling conditions, or have left their homeland. Everyday bring more deaths of innocent civilians. It is critical to put an immediate end to the violence through an increase in international military and security forces.

Contacts:

OCHA CAR: Barbara Shenstone, Head of Office: shenstone@un.org, +236 70 73 87 30

Emmanuelle Schneider, Public Information Unit: schneider1@un.org, +236 72 68 00 67

Laura Fultang, Public Information Officer: fultangl@un.org, +236 70 18 80 64