--- title: "UN visit to the Central African Republic must serve as wake-up call" description: "“The UN Secretary General’s visit to the Central African Republic must serve as a wake-up call for the whole international community. There still is time to stop the country from sliding down into the abyss the population had hoped to escape,” said Country Director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, Eric Batonon." url: "https://www.nrc.no/news/2017/october/un-visit-to-the-central-african-republic-must-serve-as-wake-up-call" language: "en" published: "2017-10-27T12:40:28Z" modified: "2017-10-27T12:40:28Z" --- Bengui/CAR. Robert Langba tells NRC's team about the challenges he and other displaced people face when returning to their homes. He is one of many who was forced to flee when violence broke out in his neighbourhood in the capital. The Norwegian Refugee Council is in Bengui to raise awareness of land rights and help displaced people resolve conflicts related to illegal house occupations and evictions. Photo: Alexis Huguet/NRC # UN visit to the Central African Republic must serve as wake-up call Published 27. Oct 2017 [Central African Republic](https://www.nrc.no/themes?categoryId=38) This article was first published more than 8 years ago “The UN Secretary General’s visit to the Central African Republic must serve as a wake-up call for the whole international community. There still is time to stop the country from sliding down into the abyss the population had hoped to escape,” said Country Director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, Eric Batonon. New conflicts have pushed the number of displaced Central Africans back up to a level not witnessed since the peak of the conflict in 2014. More than 1.1 million people have fled their homes. Today, UN Secretary General António Guterres finished a four-day visit to the country, which tops the Norwegian Refugee Council’s [list of neglected displacement crises](https://www.nrc.no/news/2017/may/african-countries-top-list-of-neglected-crises). “The visit has drawn some much-needed attention to this neglected crisis, which has been unfolding off the public radar. The crisis gets minimal media coverage, few high-level visits, little political attention and very limited humanitarian funding, compared to the needs. This urgently needs to change,” said Batonon. Growing insecurity and violent attacks against civilians and aid workers have left communities in several parts of the country without access to aid, as aid agencies are unable to reach parts of the most conflict-affected areas. The Central African Republic has for the third year been named the most dangerous country in the world for humanitarian workers. “Large parts of the population are already at the breaking point. When these people are cut of from assistance, whether it is due to insecurity or lack of funding, it immediately has devastating consequences,” Batonon said. Relief organisations in the country stressed the need for better humanitarian access, protection of civilians, a strengthened peacekeeping force and more funding for humanitarian assistance in their meeting with the UN Secretary General. The UN Secretary General has also been lobbying for 900 more peacekeepers to strengthen the UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA. “Mr. Guterres knows the situation in the country well, also from previous visits in his former role as UN High Commissioner for Refugees. We hope countries now will listen to his modest request for more support to the peacekeeping mission,” said Batonon. “The Central African Republic urgently needs more international support to end the atrocities that are being committed. The longer the conflict is allowed to spiral out of control, the more difficult it will be to get the country back on a track towards peace,” he added. **Facts** - More 1.1 million people are now displaced by conflict in the Central African Republic, including 600,000 internally displaced and 500,000 refugees. - One in every five people is now displaced. - The Central African Republic is at the bottom of the Human Development Index and about half of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance. - So far this year, donor countries have pledged only one third of the funds needed to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs. The UN appeal is for US$497.3 million. **Notes to editors** This week, the Secretary General of the United Nations held a meeting with the Coordinating Committee of international NGOs in the Central African Republic (CAR) to take stock of the situation in the country. During the meeting, the NGOs presented the following points: 1. Need for better access for humanitarian organisations to reach people in need of assistance 2. Need for better protection of civilians 3. Need to strengthen the peacekeeping mission MINUSCA, both with an increased number of people and better equipment, to strengthen their ability to protect the civilian population 4. Ensure that humanitarian funding is made available not only for the “hot spots” but also for other areas where the needs are high. **Who to contact for interviews or more information** Country Director Eric Batonon: +23675366789, [eric.batonon@nrc.no](mailto:eric.batonon@nrc.no) Media Adviser Tiril Skarstein: +47 905 69 287, [tisk@nrc.no](mailto:tisk@nrc.no) NRC’s media hotline: +47 905 62 329, [info@nrc.no](mailto:info@nrc.no)