Major developments
All UN movement in the north-west remains limited to emergency response only. Restriction of movement around Paoua continues.
UNICEF's partners have also restricted their movement in the north-west area. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) remains confined to Kaga Bandoro and Paoua. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has suspended all mobile medical activities in the Paoua region, although all their hospitals remain fully operational. The Italian NGO COOPI is still moving around Paoua but has restricted movement on the Paoua-Bozoum axis.
UNHCR distributed 35 tons (3 weeks full rations) of food to refugees in Sam Oundja from 17 to 19 June. A total of 2,744 initial beneficiaries (1,606 children, 587 women and 551 men) were reached. An additional 140 people received food aid on 21 June. A second convoy of 55 tons left on 22 June, 37 tons of which will be given to the local population in an effort to reduce the tension caused by the recent influx of more than 2,800 Sudanese refugees.
The Amnesty International Report that was released this week described the northern region as a "free-for-all" for rebels, soldiers and armed bandits. Amnesty also reported on the prevalence of kidnappings in the area; "some parents have paid up to $4,000 for their children to be freed - other minors have been killed."
UNFPA, UN agencies, the Norwegian Refugee Council will begin their internally displaced population survey of 7 prefectures next week, starting with the Vakaga region. It is thought the process will last approximately six weeks and when completed, should give a more holistic picture of CAR's population, something which is vital for the planning of future interventions.
International Medical Corps has reported that it will this week begin operations in the Vakaga region of north-eastern CAR. Interventions will be based on primary health and nutritional care for displaced populations.
The construction of the new UN office in Paoua should be completed around 15 August. Other agencies and NGOs have been invited to use the facility. The new office will improve UN access to some of CAR's most vulnerable populations.
A follow-up multidisciplinary mission to CAR took place from 10 to 17 May 2007, led by Ibrahima D. Fall (UNICEF). Representatives from the Swedish government, the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) and OCHA, who had all participated in the first mission last November, also took part -- the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Development Group Office (UNDGO) were also invited to participate in light of the concerns regarding the human rights situation and issues related to transition from relief to recovery.
In its report released on Tuesday, the team noted that the humanitarian response has improved in many respects since its last visit, but serious challenges still need to be addressed (improvements of data collection and information management, implementation of the UN humanitarian reform, security and humanitarian funding). It also said that there was a clear need for an immediate reinforcement of protection and human rights capacities. The report says that "unless and until an adequate response is provided to address the causes of the prevailing crisis, there is no doubt that the humanitarian situation in CAR will continue to deteriorate."
UNICEF Response
EDUCATION
Three temporary schools have been built at the Sam Ouandja Sudanese refugee site in north-eastern CAR. UNICEF is also supporting existing education structures in the town for local populations.
NUTRITION
A nutritional survey for children aged between six - 59 months was carried out in the Vakaga region of northeastern CAR at the end of May in partnership with the French NGO Action Contre la Faim (ACF); 320 children from the town of Birao and surrounding villages were included in the survey. The preliminary results were as follows:
- Global Acute Malnutrition rate among all children (in Z-Score): 11.3 per cent
- Global Acute Malnutrition rate among boys (in Z-Score): 15.2 per cent
- 32 of the 158 children aged between 6-29 months were found to be suffering from Global Acute Malnutrition (almost 20 per cent)
The Global Acute Malnutrition rate among children aged 6-59 months, living in the Birao area, is above the alarm line (10 per cent) but below the emergency line (15 per cent). The Global Acute Malnutrition rate for boys aged 6-29 months however has exceeded the emergency line.
UNICEF is greatly concerned by this situation and is currently discussing possible interventions with MSF-Holland. UNICEF hopes to provide Plumpy-Nut through mobile clinics to children suffering from Acute Malnutrition.
HEALTH/ EXPANDED PROGRAMME ON IMMUNIZATION (EPI)
This week, the section received more than US$ 800,000 from New York headquarters to cover the operational expenses of three rounds of nation wide anti-tetanus campaigns in reproductive aged/pregnant women. The first two rounds are planned for October and November 2007 and the third round will be held in May 2008.
This week the Comite d'appui au programme élargi de vaccination (CTAPEV) commenced its validation of 2 training modules which will be used to train vaccinators and district management teams all over the country.
An EPI workshop on Integrated Communication Planning (PIC) for EPI will take place in Sibut, south-central CAR, from 28 June to 2 July.
On 29 June 2007, the section will provide the Government with 15 motorcycles, 100 bicycles and a 40 KVA stand-by generator for the central level cold room. It is hoped this initiative will facilitate public health delivery and improve government capacity.
WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION (WES)
A WES survey has been completed in Gordil, north-eastern CAR, this week, in order to support the recent demobilization of children involved in armed conflict.
This week has seen a continuation of a first phase response for those Sudanese refugees who have recently arrived in Sam Ouandja, a town which lies in north-eastern CAR. The interventions include water treatment at points of use through Red Crescent volunteers. Arrangements are being made to ship components of the mini station (including bladders, tanks, pipes and water treatment chemicals) due to be set up on site.
A Joint Monitoring Mission conducted by an independent monitor commissioned by the European Union in Brussels has been carried out. Under the school sanitation and hygiene education programmes, four sites were visited in Kaga Bandoro and Mbres in north-central CAR, where one training session for masons is ongoing and three school sites are almost complete. The resident director of CREPA also participated in the mission.
A Water, Sanitation and Hygiene team member is currently attending a workshop on Water Sources, Supply, Distribution and Treatment in Emergency delivered by RedR UK in Surrey (UK) from 21 to 26 June 2007.
The ongoing Ndele project aims to revive 75 water management committees in Bamingui-Bangoran (BB) and Ouaka. To date, 17 wells have been rehabilitated in BB. Family latrines have also been built in BB (150) and Ouaka (220).
Inter-agency Collaboration and Key Partnerships
This weekend UNICEF was able to distribute supplies via the World Food Programme convoy, to the refugees in Sam Ouandja, a village located on the Sudanese border in north-eastern CAR. Items included non-food items, sanitation kits, education and entertainment materials. It is hoped these supplies will go some way towards improving living conditions for the newly arrived refugees and provide basic schooling.
A Protocol of Agreement (PCA) is currently being prepared for ACF/France. UNICEF hopes to be able to work with the organization in preparing a Nutritional Surveillance System throughout the country, with a particular emphasis on CAR's most vulnerable northern prefectures. The programme will also help enhance national capacity and improve the public management of acute severe malnutrition.
A PCA has been signed with International Rescue Committee (IRC) in order to provide emergency health support to the district of Nana Gribizi, one of the most conflict-affected prefectures in the central-north of the country. This integrated programme will benefit 45,930 people, including 22,000 internally displaced persons - 20,000 along the Kaga Bandoro-Ouandago axis and 2,000 in Kaga Bandoro town. The project has 3 main objectives centred on health, water and sanitation and education.