In response to violent episodes and atrocities in the Central African Republic in past months, the European Commission announced an additional €7 million in humanitarian aid.
The crisis in the Central African Republic, resulting from a civil war, presents dire humanitarian challenges; the country is the most dangerous in the world for aid workers, second only to Syria.
People in the Central African Republic continue to face the consequences of years of conflict and displacement, as well as widespread food insecurity. The €7 million announcement comes in addition to the €129 million in Commission humanitarian aid in the country since December 2013, a further €83 million in humanitarian aid has gone to helping Central African refugees in neighbouring countries.
The European Commission's humanitarian aid mainly provides access to health, nutrition, food assistance, emergency shelter, and drinking water. Emergency relief mainly focuses on displaced populations, both inside and outside internally displaced persons (IDPs) sites. Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides emphasised the need for humanitarian access, "We stand in full solidarity with the people of the Central African Republic. The EU assistance announced today will help respond to urgent needs in the sectors of food, health, water and sanitation, but also shelter and protection. What is crucial is that aid workers are allowed to operate in safe conditions and deliver vital supplies to those in need."
Well over a million people have now been forcibly displaced, of which over 600 000 within the Central African Republic, with as many in neighbouring countries. The EU and its Member States are the largest donors to the country and raised substantial international support for the Central African Republic at the Brussels pledging conference in 2016.