Central African Republic
In Central African Republic (CAR), one million people have been displaced by ongoing sectarian conflict. The International Rescue Committee has assisted CAR across its current crisis despite the high risk to aid workers. We provide medical care, water and sanitation services, and protection for vulnerable women and chicks.
Country facts
- Population: Four.7 million
- People displaced by crisis: one million
- Rank in Human Development Index: one hundred eighty seven of one hundred eighty eight countries
IRC response
- Embarked work in CAR: 2006
CAR crisis briefing
Central African Republic, a landlocked country, has struggled with violence and political instability for decades. The IRC provides critical assistance to Central Africans and helps lay the groundwork for strong, healthy and safe communities.
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What caused the current crisis in CAR?
Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Central African Republic (CAR) has suffered decades of violence and political instability.
Following a four-year period of relative peace, sectarian violence inbetween Muslim and Christian groups broke out in 2012. Millions were uprooted. Over 400,000 are now refugees in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Chad and Cameroon.
As the situation remains volatile, CAR’s future dangles in the balance.
What are the main humanitarian challenges in CAR?
About Two.7 million Central Africans, over half of the population, are in need of instant humanitarian assistance.
Recurring violence and ineffective government has resulted in a lack of access to basic services and education. Health services are sparse. People do not have the economic opportunities to provide for themselves, let alone their families.
Poor infrastructure and attacks on aid workers, including kidnappings, further exacerbates the dire humanitarian situation.
How does the IRC help?
The IRC’s mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to get through, recover and build up control of their future. We very first began assisting Central Africans in two thousand six and remain in the country to aid conflict-affected and internally displaced communities.
As the situation in Central African Republic remains unstable and unpredictable, the IRC is focusing efforts in Bangui and Ombella M’Poko, Nana Gribizi, Ouham Pendé and La Kémo prefectures by:
- providing emergency ease;
- providing health care and psychosocial support to women survivors of violence;
- distributing food and creating economic opportunities to displaced people and vulnerable groups such as women and youthful adults;
- building and supporting schools and safe spaces for children to learn and play;
- building and restoring clean water sources and promoting good hygiene practices.
What still needs to be done?
As the humanitarian and security situations in Central African Republic (CAR) remain volatile, the IRC seeks to proceed programs in the communities most affected by crisis and conflict. Through our work, we put the needs of the most vulnerable, specifically women and ladies, at the forefront of our efforts and to achieve measurable improvements in health, safety, economic wellbeing and empowerment.
To meet the primary needs of the population in CAR, the IRC will proceed focusing on health, safety and economic wellbeing. Additionally, as a leader in gender-based violence prevention and response, we will concentrate on women’s empowerment and protection to narrow the gender gap and maximize our influence.
Through 2020, the IRC in CAR will concentrate on signature programming including:
We plan to expand our programs for women and women by addressing harmful gender inequalities menacing their health.
The IRC will place specific concentrate on ensuring women and chicks are identically safe from harm as fellows and boys. We will expand dialogues and workshops on gender-based violence to guys and host peer mentorship programs for survivors of violence.
The IRC will also work to ensure women and chicks have access to the same economic opportunities as fellows and boys. To meet this objective, we will develop gender-responsive programming to help people generate income and assets in high-potential business and employment opportunities.
Additionally, through youth leadership programs for both chicks and boys, we will seek to improve economic opportunities for youthful people by providing education and support. Specifically, safe spaces for women and women will permit the exchange of ideas and improve access to economic opportunities.
Download the IRC’s Central African Republic strategy activity plan to learn more about our program priorities through 2020.