Central African Republic: Nearly one in five children is a refugee or internally displaced, warns UNICEF
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 15 November 2016 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, Central African Republic: Nearly one in five children is a refugee or internally displaced, warns UNICEF, 15 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/582c27e8412.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
15 November 2016 - As aid officials prepare to meet in Brussels on Thursday to seek funding to continue their programmes in Central African Republic (CAR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported today that more than 850,000 people there - half of them children - are still on the move, either internally displaced or refugees in neighbouring countries.
"When children return to their communities as security improves, they will need to have schools and clinics to come to," Christine Muhigana, UNICEF's Deputy Director for West and Central Africa, said in a news release.
"Access to quality health and education is the cornerstone of any recovery, and the foundation for a peaceful future," she added.
Due to clashes between the mainly Muslim Séléka rebel coalition and anti-Balaka militia, which are mostly Christian, the country plunged into a civil conflict in 2012, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. But it is now seen emerging from the conflict.
"The country is in a better place now," said Ms. Muhigana. "But this is still one of the world's most dangerous countries for children, and renewed violence threatens to undermine signs of progress."
According to UNICEF, at the meeting in Belgium's capital, leaders from the CAR will make the case for a $3 billion aid package to global donors, including the UN, the European Union and the World Bank.
Most recently, repeated flare ups of violence have forced several non-governmental organizations to significantly scale down their interventions in parts of the country, slowing the progress of the national recovery plan.
An attack on the Kaga Bandoro camp for internally displaced people last month left 37 civilians dead, including educators participating in a UNICEF-supported programme.
Working with the Government and partners, UNICEF is strengthening the education system by training more than 1,300 teachers and building or repairing 172 schools in 2016 with funding from the European Union and the Global Partnership for Education. Existing projects are set to expand in order to bolster primary health care, improve access to clean water and offer psychosocial support for children who've experienced violence.
