Central African Republic Situation Report No. 8 Date: 3 May 2013

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

 WFP Food distributions resumed outside of Bangui (in Bambari, South-East and Batalimo, South-West) on 1 May 2013. WFP food distributions had already resumed last week in Bangui following temporary suspension due to insecurity. WFP is progressively scaling up its activities as the security situation allows.  To date, security incidents and looting are still reported in Bangui and in the rest of the country.  In a press statement issued on Monday 29 April, the Security Council voiced concern over the worsening humanitarian and security situation, as well as the weakening of the institutions in CAR.  An international contact Group Meeting on Central African Republic gathering all the partners of CAR was held in Brazzaville on 2-3 May 2013.  On 26 April, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) requested all neighbouring countries to suspend ongoing repatriation activities of Central African refugees.

II. SITUATION UPDATE

 Security assessments were conducted by the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) on the Bangui- Damara-Sibut, Bambari and Ndele with the participation of WFP.  The members of the Security Council as well as the International Criminal Court expressed concern regarding the situation in CAR and stated that those responsible for violations and abuses of international humanitarian and human rights must be held accountable.  Prime Minister Tiangaye held meetings in Brussels, Paris and Pretoria in order to try to break the diplomatic isolation of the CAR. Following a meeting with President Jacob Zuma, the two men announced that the relations between their two countries will be strengthened. However, both the EU and France condition their support to CAR to the establishment of legitimate authorities and the return of the rule of law.  The wages of public servants have still not been paid and according to Prime Minister Tiangaye this is one of the reasons why the government has difficulties in confining armed men and re-establishing security.  Due to the difficult conditions, three of the largest companies threaten to close their business and leave the country. This could have serious economic repercussions since they employ over 40,000 people in CAR.  Journalists were on strike Monday 29 April to protest against the threats received and the looting of the premises of several radios and newspapers. Bus and taxi drivers were on strike as well for two days last week for similar reasons.  The Economic Community of Central African States recommended increasing the number of the National Transitional Council members from 105 to 135 to augment number of civil society representatives and the distribution of these seats fuels discussions.  Schools are still closed for security reasons.  Movements are restricted and staff work in office on strictly critical need basis.

III. WFP RESPONSE WFP activities in Central African Republic are implemented through a PRRO (2012 – 2013) and a CP (2012 - 2016), supported by an UNHAS Special Operation (2013). Activities include relief and recovery assistance for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), nutrition support for malnourished children 6 to 59 months of age, pregnant and lactating women, school meals, and recovery activities to assist people in rebuilding their livelihoods. In 2012, WFP assisted approximately 334,000 people with food and nutrition assistance.

Food distributions:  While insecurity on the ground limited the prepositioning and large scale food distributions, WFP was able to resume distributions both in Bangui and outside the capital after a temporary suspension. In April, WFP planned to

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support close to 42,000 people with 1,000 mt in Bangui, Bambari, Batalimo among others. These distributions are ongoing.

 On 1 May, WFP distributed monthly food rations to approximately 2,000 Sudanese refugees in the Bambari refugee camp (South East). WFP and partners from OCHA, UNHCR, International Medical Corps, and UNDSS travelled by UNHAS flight on 1 May and witnessed the food distribution in the refugee camp after discussing with authorities in Bambari town. The refugees were extremely grateful for the food assistance which is the first to be delivered since the start of the crisis in December 2012. 60 percent of the beneficiaries were women who were actively involved in all aspects of the food distribution as well as representation at food committee level. Distribution will continue in this area early next week for 8,000 IDPs.  Delivery of 96 mt of food to Batalimo refugee WFP Distribution at the Community Hospital in camp (South West) was successful and Bangui, 26 April 2013 Cooperatione Internazionale (COOPI) has DIASPORA/Herve Serefio started distributing food to approximately 6,000 Congolese refugees on 1 May.  Distribution started on 26 April in the community hospital of Bangui. WFP plans to reach over 7,500 beneficiaries living with HIV under the Food by Prescription project and malnourished children and pregnant women and nursing mothers under the Supplementary Feeding Programme with a total of approximately 73.5 mt. As of 1 May, approximately 2,900 people (among them 78% women) had already received a ration.  WFP cooperating partners, Solidarités and MSF Spain, are planning to resume distributions in Kabo (Ouham) in early May, if security allows. Under the Field Level Agreement, WFP and Solidarités will target around 14,000 vulnerable food insecure persons with 786 mt for four months.

Assessments:  The postponed Rapid Food Security Assessment with ACF, COOPI and CARITAS will take place as soon as security allows access to the field.  An Emergency Food Security Assessment in coordination with UNICEF and FAO is being planned in the context of the Food Security Cluster. If security allows, this mission will start mid-May and have a country-wide coverage.  Preliminary findings of localized NGO-led assessments coordinated by the FSC show reduced food reserves, changes in coping strategies (with more people borrowing or bartering food and resorting to fishing and hunting), difficult access to food for the most vulnerable groups and high food prices on the markets.  Following the renewed fighting in the Darfur, approximately 2,250 Sudanese refugees have been reported to have crossed over to Northen CAR (in the Vakaga Province).

Logistics:  The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) is operational. It notably ensures weekly rotation between Bangui and Yaounde and serves in-country destination to facilitate assessment missions.  WFP currently has 1,179 mt in the warehouse in Bangui, 342 mt in Bouar and 59 mt in Paoua. In Douala, Cameroon, WFP CAR has 4,060 mt comprising of various, well-balanced commodities.

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 The borders between CAR and Cameroon are still open but transporters are reluctant to travel in the region due to the current insecurity.  Emergency communication capacities are currently limited. Effort is underway to activate the WFP radio room which has been out of use.

IV. RESOURCING

 PRRO 200315 targets the conflict-affected north and south-east. WFP assists internally displaced and returnees, as well as refugees – Sudanese refugees in Ouaka (central CAR) and Congolese (DRC) refugees in Mbomou/Haut Mbomou (south-east) and Lobaye (south-west). Nutrition assistance is provided to malnourished children 6–59 months of age, malnourished mothers and caretakers of severely malnourished children receiving treatment. Assistance is also provided to people living with HIV through a pilot food-for-prescription activity. Furthermore, WFP supports school meals to facilitate the return of primary students to school, provides food-for-assets to people (seed protection rations, land/basic infrastructure rehabilitation) and skill/technical training as well as support for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration. The project is 83% resourced with a funding gap of approximately US$ 7 million.  Under the Country Programme 200331 implemented in the Southern part of the country, WFP provides school meals to primary and pre-school children to encourage attendance and enrolment. WFP also provides nutritional support to malnourished children and pregnant and lactating women to prevent and treat moderate acute malnutrition. CP 200331 is currently only funded at 20.7% (i.e. still requiring US$ 18.5 million or 79.3% out of the total requirements of US$23.3 million). No contribution has been received towards this operation in 2013. As of April 2013, the education component faces significant pipeline break for cereals, pulses, oil and salt and the nutrition component faces pipeline breaks in all commodities. Contributions are needed soonest given the long lead times for food to arrive in the landlocked country.  The UNHAS Special Operation is facing a shortfall of 61.8%, requiring US$4.72 million out of the total requirement of US$7.64 million. Additional resources from donors are urgently required to provide safe access to the humanitarian community to 27 locations across the country. UNHAS is the sole transport mode to reach most parts of CAR which are inaccessible due to very weak infrastructure and poor road networks. More than 40 humanitarian organizations depend on UNHAS to transport aid workers to the deep field.

V. CONTACTS Housainou Taal, Country Director and Representative, Bangui (CAR): +236 70 17 82 78, [email protected]

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