Central African Republic: News bulletin No. 88, 01 - 08 Dec 2008

Highlights

- Political dialogue to start on 8 December

- Situation in CAR remains fragile according to United Nations Secretary-General Ban

- European Commission provides € 6 million in humanitarian aid

- Rabies and yellow fever plaguing CAR

- Safe water for over 52,000 people in Ouham

Background and security

Political dialogue on 8 December

Originally planned for June 2008, the inclusive political dialogue is now scheduled to start on 8 December in Bangui under the chairmanship of Pierre Buyoya, the former President of Burundi. The government, the political opposition, several rebel groups and the civil society will participate in the talks.

For this purpose, Ange-Félix Patassé, the former Central African President toppled by current President Bozizé, arrived in Bangui on 7 December after five years of exile in Togo. On the same day, Abacar Sabone, President of the Movement of Central African Liberators for Justice (MLCJ), one of the militant groups in the north-east, signed the global peace accord of Libreville.

Also on 7 December, Abdoulaye Miskine, President of the Democratic Front for the Central African People (FDPC), announced in a press statement that the group will not participate in the talks because of the "stalling tactics of the organizers".

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said that he was encouraged by the confirmation that the dialogue will start, hoping that it will "establish a foundation for a genuine national reconciliation process. "

Read about the dialogue online: http://www.dpi-rca.org

Situation remains fragile according to Ban

In his report on CAR made public on 2 December, Ban Ki-moon wrote that the country continues to face political, security and socio-economic challenges and that the situation is being compounded by a weak economy, complex social problems and impunity linked to grave security problems, particularly in the north and the southwest of the country.

The "culture of impunity" that exists for perpetrators of human rights violations belonging to one of the rebel militias, the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD), as well as Government forces is "an area of immediate and continuing concern," he said in the report submitted to the UN Security Council.

The Secretary General welcomed the decision by the Central African government to hold an inclusive political dialogue at the beginning of December, and he encourages the authorities to bring this important initiative to a good end.

He also renewed his appeal for unhindered access so that humanitarian assistance can reach the people in need and to ensure adequate protection for humanitarian workers, saying it was critical to addressing the "massive" humanitarian challenges facing the CAR.

The reportcan be downloaded from the website: http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2008/733

Current events

EC provides €6 million in humanitarian aid

The European Commission has allocated €6 million in humanitarian aid to help around 200,000 displaced people and other vulnerable civilians in the north of CAR. Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, said on 1 December: "The European Commission continues to provide humanitarian assistance ... to limit the terrible suffering of so many uprooted families. However, both the Commission and the Government of the Central African Republic are aware that the solution to the problems lies not in emergency humanitarian aid but in securing a negotiated peace, better governance and long-term development."

Relief assistance will be provided to respond to the most urgent humanitarian needs. Yet, interventions will, as far as possible, focus on areas and sectors earmarked for future reconstruction and development under the European Development Fund.

All humanitarian funds are channeled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) and the contracts are being signed. ECHO set up an office in Bangui in July of this year to closely follow developments in the humanitarian situation, to play an active role in the local coordination of relief efforts and to monitor the use of the Commission's relief funds.

For more information: muriel.cornelis@echocar.org

Safe water for over 52,000 people in Ouham

Between April and November, a water-and-sanitation team of the International Partnership for Human Development (IPHD), an American NGO, repaired 100 pumps in Ouham in the north-west of the country. Over 52,000 people now have access to safe water.

IPHD trained eight local technicians in November in the maintenance of the pumps and they will receive repair kits with tools. At the same time, close to 300 members of water committees benefitted from an interactive training in the local management of water pumps and had their knowledge of good hygiene practices refreshed.

During the same period, 1,000 latrines were built in villages in Ouham and a campaign on hygiene promotion, including information on water use, latrines and disease risks, was carried out for the benefit of the local population. The project was funded by the Emergency Response Fund (ERF) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

For more information: c.bindea@iphd-africa.org

Rabies and yellow fever plaguing CAR

A yellow fever vaccination campaign was completed in Lobaye, the province south of the capital, after a person was diagnosed with the disease in August.

More than 210,000 people were vaccinated during the campaign.

In November, a 38-year-old woman in Liton, at 22 km from Bangui, was suspected of having yellow fever, and the disease was confirmed in a 31-year-old man in Bria, provincial capital of Haute Kotto in the east of the country.

An epidemic of rabies, transmitted to humans by dog bites, was discovered in Kaga-Bandoro in the centre of the country in August and September. So far, 227 people were bitten by dogs suspected of having rabies. The epidemic caused the death of three victims.

Anti-rabies vaccines were made available with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Institut Pasteur of Bangui, and 168 people, or 74% of the people bitten by affected dogs, were vaccinated.

For more information:conjugop@cf.afro.who.int

Président Bozizé visits EUFOR in Birao

President Bozizé and General Jean-Philippe Ganascia, commanding the European Force for CAR and Chad (EUFOR), met on 4 December in Birao on the occasion of CAR's national holiday.

The President visited the multinational contingent of Birao, which is placed under French command. EUFOR made a presentation on its mission and actions in the east of CAR, which was followed by a visit to Am Dafok. Two representatives of the United Nations Mission in CAR and Chad (MINURCAT) also participated in the visit.

Contact us: UN OCHA Bangui, CAR

Nancy Snauwaert | snauwaert@un.org | +236 75 54 22 78
Gisèle Willybiro | willybiro@un.org | +236 75 54 90 31