UN and NGO emergency directors to visit Central African Republic

WHO: John Ging, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Ted Chaiban, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), David Kaatrud, World Food Programme (WFP), Mohammed Abdiker, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Mabingue Ngom, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Emmanuel Moncada, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Liz Ahua, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Michel Yao, World Health Organisation (WHO), Chris Skopec, International Medical Corps (IMC), and Scott Charlesworth, Mercy Corps to visit the Central African Republic (CAR)

WHAT: Joint mission of UN and NGO Emergency Directors to the Central African Republic

WHEN: 17 – 19 October 2013

WHERE: Bangui and field visit

The Emergency Directors for OCHA, UNICEF, WFP, IOM, UNFPA, UNHCR, WHO, IMC, Mercy Corps and a Representative of FAO are scheduled to visit the Central African Republic (CAR) from 17 to 19 October. The three-day joint mission aims to take stock of the humanitarian crisis and response in CAR.

The delegation is expected to discuss ways of enhancing support for the humanitarian response in CAR and how to support a more resilience-oriented recovery with the Central African authorities and other humanitarian partners. The Directors are also expected to raise issues of humanitarian access and protection of civilians with interlocutors.

On 18 October, the delegation is scheduled to travel to the northern towns of Bossangoa (Ouham Province) and Kaga Bandoro (Nana Gribizi Province) to see for themselves the humanitarian impact of the crisis and the on-going relief efforts.

Since 10 December 2012, the conflict in CAR has led to the internal displacement of 394,000 people and nearly 64,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries. Continued insecurity and poor infrastructure in CAR makes it challenging for humanitarian organisations to reach affected communities and provide relief and protection.

For further details of media opportunities during the trip, and to set up interviews with the Directors, please contact Laura Fultang in Bangui: + 236 70 18 80 64 (cell), fultangl@un.org