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SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL: Humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic

The Central African Republic, which has been independent since 1960, is one of the poorest countries in the world: 178th out of 179 according to the 2008 United Nations Human Development Index – UNDP. Currently, 70% of the population lives on less than one dollar per day, 72% are illiterate, 74% do not have access to drinking water, and average life expectancy is 39 years. Any real development is hindered by political instability and insufficient resources. Both the public sector and the private sector (mines, cotton and coffee, all of which are affected by falling prices) have taken a beating. Along with threats from road blocks, poachers, rebel groups and armed forces, the population also copes with threats to their security from the multi-national forces of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (FOMUC).

A number of ceasefires have been signed in recent years, and a global peace agreement was finalized on June 21, 2008. However, lasting security remains unattainable and the HCR estimates the number of Central African refugees in the south of Chad to be 45,000 since 2003. In the last fifteen years, the number of South Sudan refugees in CAR is about 15,000. These migrations affect a third of the population, who live in precarious conditions.

Since arriving in the CAR in November 2006, SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL has been unceasing in their aid efforts in the areas of water access and sanitation, hygiene and food security.

Update: july 2009