The ICRC in the Central African Republic

In the Central African Republic (CAR), the ICRC protects and assists people affected by armed conflict or other situations of violence, providing emergency aid, carrying out livelihood-support projects and rehabilitating water and sanitation facilities. It also visits detainees, restores family links for people separated by conflict, and promotes IHL among various actors. Read full overview

Highlights

Facts and Figures

Every two months since November 2010, the ICRC has distributed food to over 40,000 people (displaced and residents) in five main towns, Obo, Mboki, Zemio, Dembia and Rafaï.
The ICRC distributed seed to 4,000 farming families in Zemio and Mboki during April 2011 in order to increase yields in August.
In 2010, eight children who escaped after being forcibly recruited by an armed group were reunited with their families in Sudan, the Congo and Central African Republic by the ICRC.
The ICRC has begun a borehole drilling campaign in Rafaï, MBoki and Obo to provide mid-to-long-term solutions to the increased demand for water in the towns. It has also rehabilitated existing wells and pumps.
With ICRC support, the Central African Red Cross society promotes good hygiene practices in the community, by providing material and training so people can build their own latrines.
Essential medicines, including 150 malaria treatment kits, were donated to the Rafaï Catholic Mission in March 2011 to help cover the needs of the population.
The ICRC has 154 staff in the country, including 28 expatriates.

Reference documents

ICRC in Africa: a long-term commitment

In images More images

Red Cross Red Crescent Magazine

Unrest in the Central African Republic
Larger than France, with a population of just four million, the Central African Republic is the world’s sixth poorest country. Increased insecurity and a series of uprisings in the north have plunged the country into a deep crisis. Article published in the Red Cross Red Crescent Magazine, No 3, 2007.