The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
STORYLINE
"Due to armed violence, one in five Central Africans is either an IDP or a refugee in neighboring countries, with Sudan crisis excacerbating the situation"
The humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) remains critical with 3,4 million people – or half of the population - in need of humanitarian assistance. Of those, 2.4 million have needs so severe that their survival and dignity is at risk, told the Humanitarian Coordinator of the CAR, Mohamed Ag Ayoya, the media at a briefing at the UN in Geneva.
“The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection in CAR (Central African Republic) is quite high”, said Mr. Ag Ayoya. “We are talking about 3.4 million people spread over 623,000 square kilometers area due to underlying factors which are exacerbated by the long-lasting conflict, including, of course, lack of basic services such as health care, clean water and social protection.”
Repeated military confrontations between various armed actors in the country result in a continuously volatile security situation causing population movements.
“Due to armed violence, one in five Central Africans is either an IDP or a refugee in neighboring countries”. Mr. Ag Ayoya said. He added that “it is against this background that the ongoing conflict in Sudan is unfortunately also exacerbating the situation in CAR.”
The impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan further worsens humanitarian needs in the country. Vulnerable households were already weakened after the combined impact of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine these past years.
Mr. Ag Ayoya said the conflict in neighbouring Sudan has meant the arrival of nearly 14,000 Sudanese asylum seekers and Central African repatriates in the Northeast. It has also halted commercial traffic across the border, putting additional pressure on the limited resources available to the 130,000 extremely vulnerable people in the region.
“As of 24 May 2023, we have more than thirteen thousand people, actually a little bit less than thirteen thousand, including Central African returnees, who have previously fled from Sudan to Am-Dafockfog in CAR on one site and about ten thousand people have also fled Chad, both Chadians but also Central African returnees who also came into CAR,” said CAR’s Humanitarian Coordinator.
Delivering humanitarian assistance in CAR is often a race against time and a volatile security situation. When the rainy season starts, large parts of the country get cut off from road access and are only accessible via air lifts.
“With the rainy season beginning, the transportation of humanitarian aid by road is becoming almost impossible and extremely very limited,” said Mr. Ag Ayoa. “Warehouses could not be supplied as before due to the Sudan crisis, as I said earlier. The air transportation alternative is also limited by rising fuel prices due to the disruption of supply chain caused by the war in Ukraine and recently again exacerbated by the conflict in Sudan.”
Despite these challenges, humanitarian partners continue to find ways to assist the vulnerable population. In 2022, the humanitarian community helped 1.9 million people. In the first three months of 2023 alone, 658,000 people were reached with live-saving assistance.
The humanitarian appeal of $533 million is currently 25 per cent funded ($125 million).
-ends-
STORY: CAR Humanitarian Situation - OCHA
TRT: 2 mins. 15 sec.
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 5 June 2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Wide shot, UN Geneva flag alley.
- Medium shot, press room with journalists and panel of speakers
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Mohamed Ag Ayoya, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN Mission in CAR (MINUSCA), Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator: “The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection in the Central African Republic (CAR) is quite high. We are talking about 3.4 million people spread over 623,000 square kilometers area due to underlying factors which are exacerbated by the long-lasting conflict, including, of course, lack of basic services such as health care, clean water and social protection.”
- Close up, Laptop screen with speaker on podium in background
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Mohamed Ag Ayoya, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN Mission in CAR (MINUSCA), Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator: “Due to armed violence one in five Central Africans is either an IDP or a refugee in neighboring countries. It is against this background that the ongoing conflict in Sudan is unfortunately also exacerbating the situation in CAR.”
- Medium shot, journalists
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Mohamed Ag Ayoya, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN Mission in CAR (MINUSCA), Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator: “As of 24 May 2023, we have more than thirteen thousand people, actually a little bit less than thirteen thousand, including Centralafrican returnees, who have previously fled from Sudan to Am-Dafockfog in CAR on one site and about ten thousand people have also fled Chad, both Chadiens but also Centralafrican returnees who also came into CAR.”
- Medium shot, journalists and delegates
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) - Mohamed Ag Ayoya, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN Mission in CAR (MINUSCA), Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator: “With the rainy season beginning, the transportation of humanitarian aid by road is becoming almost impossible and extremely very limited. Warehouses could not be supplied as before due to the Sudan crisis, as I said earlier. The air transportation alternative is also limited by rising fuel prices due to the disruption of supply chain caused by the war in Ukraine and recently again exacerbated by the conflict in Sudan.”
- Wide shot, spokespeople on podium
- Close-up, hand taking notes
- Medium shot, journalists in press room
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today told the bi-weekly UN press briefing in Geneva of more details that are emerging on the atrocities committed in El Fasher, in Sudan during and after its takeover by the Rapid Support Forces.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , WHO
Sudan: UN Raises Alarm Over Mass Atrocities in El Fasher as Survivors Report Executions, Killings and Rapes
More details continue to emerge about atrocities committed during and after the fall of El Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan on 23 October. Since the powerful paramilitary group made a major incursion into the city last week, the UN Human Rights Office has received “horrendous accounts of summary executions, mass killings, rapes, attacks against humanitarian workers, looting, abductions and forced displacement,” said Seif Magango, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
Ukraine: Russian attacks on energy terrorize population as winter starts; could trigger major ‘crisis within crisis’
The UN’s top aid official in Ukraine expressed concern on Friday about “continuous attacks” on energy production sites and distribution facilities.
1
1
1
Edited News | HRC
Navi Pillay Retires After Decades Defending Human Rights and Pursuing Justice
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The telecommunications shutdowns in Afghanistan in September had serious and far-reaching impacts on people’s lives, according to a briefing paper published today by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence at the UN Geneva press briefing made the following comment on the ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment.
1
1
1
Edited News | IFRC , OCHA , WMO
‘Catastrophic’ Hurricane Melissa hours from landfall in Jamaica as humanitarians rush to save lives
Millions in Jamaica and across the Caribbean are bracing for massive impact from Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday as the UN and partners are warning of a “severe” and “immediate” humanitarian threat.
1
1
Edited News | WHO
‘We need all routes to open’: in Gaza WHO calls for ramp-up of medevacs, easier access for essentials
Two weeks since a ceasefire agreement entered into force in Gaza the World Health Organization (WHO) noted progress on the flow of aid while calling for more evacuations of critical patients and eased entry for essential medicines and supplies.
1
12
1
1
Edited News | WMO , UNITED NATIONS
UN chief urges boost to life-saving weather warning systems, stresses role of climate change science
No country is safe from the devastating impacts of extreme weather — and saving lives means making early-warning systems accessible to all, UN chief António Guterres said on Wednesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP
Gazans’ response to food distributions ‘overwhelming’ as humanitarians scale up under fragile ceasefire
In Gaza, the ceasefire is enabling UN humanitarians to reach more desperate people with life-saving food, but greater access is needed to contain the spread of famine.