Central African Republic Emergency Update #2
Period Covered 18-24 December 2013
[1] Highlights
There are currently some 639,000 internally displaced people in the Central African Republic (CAR), including more than 210,000 in Bangui in over 40 sites. UNHCR submitted a request to the Humanitarian Coordinator for the activation of the Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster. Since 14 December, UNHCR has deployed twelve additional staff to Bangui to support UNHCR’s response to the current IDP crisis. Some 1,200 families living at Mont Carmel, airport and FOMAC/Lazaristes Sites were provided with covers, sleeping mats, plastic sheeting, mosquito domes and jerrycans. About 50 tents were set up at the Archbishop/Saint Paul Site and Boy Rabe Monastery. From 19 December to 20 December, UNHCR together with its partners UNICEF and ICRC conducted a rapid multi- sectoral assessment in IDP sites in Bangui. Following the declaration of the L3 Emergency, UNHCR and its partners have started conducting a Multi- Cluster/Sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) in Bangui and the northwest region.
[2] Overview of the Operation
Population Displacement 2013 Funding for the Operation
Funded (42%)
Funding Gap (58%)
Total 2013 Requirements: USD 23.6M
Partners
Government agencies, 22 NGOs, FAO, BINUCA, OCHA, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO.
For further information, please contact: Laroze Barrit Sébastien, Phone: 0041-79 818 80 39, E-mail: [email protected]
Central African Republic Emergency Update #2
[2] Major Developments
Timeline of the current emergency in CAR
March July 2013 2013 The AU 5 December 11 Seleka authorizes the 2013 December rebels deployment of Renewed 2013 19 overrun the violence in The CAR December the International Bangui situation is 2013 capital Support Mission triggering designated a MISCA and seize (MISCA) for the new L3 replaces power CAR displacements emergency FOMAC
March August 2013 6 December 2013 UNHCR moves 2013 4 out of 5 to its new office France 16 December UNHCR in Bangui, announces the 2013 offices in located in front deployment of The 2014 CAR are of the BINUCA additional Strategic looted, compound troops in including Bangui, Response Plan the office following the is launched in in Bangui 5 December Geneva attacks in Bangui Bangui Bossangoa
After days of relative quiet, clashes between Anti- Bossangoa is confronted to increased inter- Balaka elements and MISCA as well as attacks against community tension. Several Anti-Balaka attacks the Muslim community were reported on Friday 20 against Muslim civilians have been reported. Twenty- December. Many women and children sought refuge two cases of arson – targeting Muslim households at the Great Mosque. In the last four days, more than mostly – have been confirmed last week alone. In 70 people have been killed in Bangui, according to addition, on 22 December, Anti-Balaka elements the Central African Red Cross. The tension in Bangui launched an attack against Muslim patients at the has affected UNHCR’ response to the crisis. The hospital. A UNHCR Field Safety Adviser will be distribution at the Airport site on 19 December had deployed to Bossangoa to allow for the safe to be interrupted. In addition, the residences of two deployment of UNHCR staff in Bossangoa. UNHCR staff were looted.
Paoua African Union's MISCA force took over CAR Peacekeeping on Thursday 19 December, replacing Tension remains high in Paoua following rumors of an the sub-regional FOMAC force. MISCA has currently impending attack by the Groupe pour la 3,600 troops in CAR. Revendication de la Paix against Séléka.
On 22 and 24 December, demonstrations were held The presence of French troops, which arrived in against the French “Sangaris” operation in CAR. Paoua on 21 December, should allow UNHCR and its partners to resume their protection activities.
For further information, please contact: Laroze Barrit Sébastien, Phone: 0041-79 818 80 39, E-mail: [email protected]
Central African Republic Emergency Update #2
[3] Update per Sector
PROTECTION
Bangui UNHCR Protection team undertook the monitoring of the protection situation in Bangui through its partner Mercy Corps and provided protection counseling to women and children as well as other people at risk at the Archbishop/ Saint Paul Site and Boy-Rabe Monastry. Several cases of traumatized women and men have been identified. During the monitoring exercise, UNHCR observed the presence of armed elements in IDP sites. The organization met with OCHA to elaborate a strategy to separate armed elements from civilians in order to maintain the civilian character of IDP sites.
North-West Region In Bossangoa, UNHCR and CARITAS verified the list of IDPs at the Archbishop Site in preparation of WFP’s food distribution. UNHCR met with IDPs and followed up on several cases of arsons and child protection and organized group discussions with IDP children on conflict resolution.
In Sido, Bédé, Bouca-Bodo, Ama and Ouassi, UNHCR continued to conduct protection monitoring through its partner DRC. Several cases of killings, gender-based violence, and arbitrary detention were monitored. In total 93 cases were recorded between 16 December and 22 December.
In Paoua, UNHCR could not conduct planned protection monitoring interventions on the Beboura-Bemal axis, owing to the security situation.
SHELTER/Non-Food Items
Overall Discussions are underway to split the WASH/Shelter/NFI Cluster into two WASH and Shelter and NFIs Clusters.
Bangui At the airport site, the distribution of shelter items, such as plastic sheeting and tents and non-food items (NFIs), such as kitchen sets and soap resumed on Wednesday 18 December after four days of interruption due to a very tensed security environment. While 291 households (out of planned 1,500) benefited from some 750 sleeping mats, 700 covers and 660 plastic sheeting, the distribution had to be interrupted due to a security incident in the site. UNHCR is discussing with its partners ICRC, MSF and UNICEF on a strategy to resume the distribution without putting humanitarian staff at risk. UNHCR plastic sheeting at the airport site, Bangui.
UNHCR/ B. Ntwari On 23 and 24 December, UNHCR provided covers, sleeping mats, plastic sheeting and mosquito domes to some 500 households in Mont Carmel Site and about 400 households living at the FOMAC compound.
For further information, please contact: Laroze Barrit Sébastien, Phone: 0041-79 818 80 39, E-mail: [email protected]
Central African Republic Emergency Update #2
About 40 tents were set up at the Archbishop/Saint Paul Site (30 tents) and Boy Rabe Monastry (10 tents). In addition, 8 tents were provided to Save the Children for children-friendly spaces in IDP sites at Boy Rabe Monastry.
Bossangoa
UNHCR together with its partner Caritas distributed NFIs to some 1,400 IDP households at the Archbishop and Ecole Liberte sites on December 20.
Summary of UNHCR NFI Assistance in Bangui since 5 December
Total Distribution per Item
113 Tents 1,750 Plastic sheeting
5,913 Covers
12,913 Sleeping mats 4,913 Mosquito domes
4 Flannel rolls ( 150m²)
1,000 Towels UNHCR tent at the Archbishop site, Bangui. UNHCR/S. 309 Underwear for women Barrit Laroze 413 Jerrycans
Several sites Archbishop Airport Airport Mont FOMAC/Lazaristes Carmel Provided to Through local site Through Direct Through local Through local site the WASH facilitators COOPI distribution site facilitators Distribution Cluster for facilitators Channel distribution in several sites 100 plastic 4,000 covers 10 plastic 1,000 covers 500 covers 413 sleeping mats sheeting 4,000 sleeping mats sheeting 1,000 500 sleeping 413 covers 4,000 mosquito sleeping mats mats 413 jerry cans domes 1,000 plastic 500 mosquito 413 mosquito 70 tents sheeting domes domes Items 45 plastic sheeting 11 tents 495 plastic 4 flannel rolls sheeting 1,000 towels 309 underwear for women
Saint Jean de Saint Saint Boy Rabe Cameroun and Gabaladja and Saint Bernard Joseph de Monastery Senegal Embassies Charles Mukasa Distribution Through ACTED Through Through Through Save Through Save the channel ACTED ACTED the Children Children 4,000 sleeping mats 3,000 sleeping 12 tents 18 tents 10 tents Items 100 plastic sheeting mats
For further information, please contact: Laroze Barrit Sébastien, Phone: 0041-79 818 80 39, E-mail: [email protected]
Central African Republic Emergency Update #2
ASSESSMENTS
From 19 December to 20 December, UNHCR in cooperation with UNICEF and ICRC conducted a rapid multi- sectoral assessment in several IDP sites in Bangui. The main findings were:
In Mont Carmel site, UNHCR observed a need to provide additional covers, sleeping mats and plastic sheeting (to be used as emergency shelters) as well as medicine, gloves and syringes for medical installations as there are high risks of respiratory infection and malaria. UNHCR will also advocate for the presence of neutral troops in the site. In Saint Joseph de Mukasa site, a urgent need for plastic sheeting (for the clinic) was assessed. The presence of armed anti-Balaka elements is of concern. UNHCR will advocate for the presence of neutral troops in the site. In Saint Charles site, UNHCR observed a lack of NFIs and particularly, mosquito domes, covers, sleeping mats, jerry cans and soap. In Saint Jean de Galabaja site, distributions are often confronted to a high level of insecurity. There is a need to re- organize the distribution of NFIs in order to ensure the security of beneficiaries as well as humanitarian staff. In Archbishop/ Saint Paul site, there is a need for additional tents as well as NFIs (to be determined with local site facilitators).
UNHCR interviewing IDPs at the Archbishop/ In Lazaristes/ FOMAC site, covers, sleeping mats, mosquito Saint Paul Site. UNHCR/B. Ntwari domes should be provided to local site facilitators in order to assist some 400 households.
UNHCR, together with its partners, OCHA, OMS, UNICEF and WFP are conducting a Multi-Cluster/Sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) in Bangui and the North-West region (Bouar, Paoua, Bossangoa and Kaga-Bandoro). The mission left Bangui on Monday 23 December. UNHCR as the Protection Cluster Lead, trained all team leaders on protection principles, code of conduct and on how to refer protection cases. The organization also provided a set of guidance documents on protection to the mission and contributed to the sampling methodology.
LOGISTICS
More than 160 kg of equipment (including computers, UNHCR visibility items and radio equipment) was shipped from Geneva to Bangui, on 17 December. In addition, the organization is to set up an airlift for NFIs from several UNHCR warehouses around the world, in order to assist some 15,000 households between December 2013 and March 2014.
For further information, please contact: Laroze Barrit Sébastien, Phone: 0041-79 818 80 39, E-mail: [email protected]
Central African Republic Emergency Update #2
COORDINATION
The Protection Cluster, led by UNHCR, gave a presentation on security, human rights and the humanitarian situation in the country to a delegation composed of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, the Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. The Cluster also highlighted gaps with regard to financial resources and staff capacity.
Following a request from UNHCR for the activation of the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster in CAR, the Humanitarian Country Team is to discuss the establishment of the CCCM Cluster on 26 December. The Cluster should allow agencies to gather reliable quantitative and qualitative data on IDPs in a systematic manner.
UNHCR currently working on reinforcing its partnership with local authorities. On 18 December, the organization participated in a meeting with the Présidente de la Délégation Spéciale of Bangui who is looking at establishing a communication strategy to promote intercommunity dialogue in Bangui and the suburbs.
FUNDRAISING
Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF): On 17 December, UNHCR submitted two proposals to the CERF for protection monitoring and Emergency shelter activities.
Strategic Response Plan (SRP): The 2014 SRP for CAR was launched in Geneva on 16 December. Some USD 247 million is requested in total for two million people, including non-displaced people, IDPs and refugees. UNHCR’s requirements amount to USD 24,355,142.
100 Day Plan: Agencies are finalizing the “100 Day Plan” for CAR. In total, USD 152.2M is requested to assist some 4.6 M people affected by the crisis in the country.
[5] Snapshot of UNHCR Capacity in CAR
STAFFING OVERVIEW 65 UNHCR staff in total in CAR (in Bangui, Bambari, Bossangoa, Paoua and Zémio) 22 International staff, including 12 International Staff from the Emergency Team 43 National staff OFFICES
Bangui Main office
Bambari Field Office
Kaga Bandoro Field Office
Paoua Field Office
Zémio Field Office
Possible Extension
UNHCR’s priority will be to have a presence in Bossangoa. The office will also look at establishing a presence in Mbai’ki and Bouar.
For further information, please contact: Laroze Barrit Sébastien, Phone: 0041-79 818 80 39, E-mail: [email protected]
Central African Republic Emergency Update #2
[6] Funding Update
List of 2013 contributions UNHCR thanks its donors for their contribution to the CAR operation. As of today,
African 100,000 the organization has received USD 9.8M, representing 42 per cent of UNHCR CERFUnion 375,014 2013 financial requirements in the country. France 501,940 Japan 3,500,000
Sweden 746,046 Switzerland 882,029 USA 3,700,000 Grand Total 9,805,029
For further information, please contact: Laroze Barrit Sébastien, Phone: 0041-79 818 80 39, E-mail: [email protected]