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.
“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.
