Highlights
- Tripartite ministerial meeting (Cameroon, CAR and Chad) on cross-border insecurity in Yaoundé on 20 June
- IMF to give FCFA 5.8 billion in financial support to CAR
- Access to health restored in Ndélé
- Support to agriculture and infrastructure north of Paoua
Background and security
Cross-border insecurity on the agenda
A ministerial meeting on cross-border insecurity, jointly organized by the Governments of Cameroon, CAR and Chad was held on 20 June in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The meeting was attended by the Ministers in charge of security for each of the three countries, or their representatives, as well as by the President of the Commission of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) and the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in CAR.
Mid-Mandate Review MINURCAT and EUFOR
A joint assessment mission of the United Nations and the European Union visited Bangui and Birao, in the north east of CAR, from 24 to 26 June, to conduct a mid-mandate review of MINURCAT and EUFOR Chad/CAR.
After visiting the two countries of concern, the mission will provide recommendations to the Security Council on the broad nature, design and capabilities of a peacekeeping operation following the MINURCAT and EUFOR end of mandate.
Current events
IMF financial support to CAR
The Board of Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 18 June completed the second review of the programme supported by the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility. As a result of the review, the IMF on 25 June disbursed 8.67 million of Special Drawing Rights (SDR), or the equivalent of FCFA 5.8 billion. The disbursement is meant to support macroeconomic and structural reforms being undertaken by the Central African Government.
The amount disbursed was recently increased from SDR 3.1 million to SDR 8.67 million so as to take into account the exogenous shock suffered by CAR from the rise in international oil prices and the adjustment measures taken by the Government. CAR's macroeconomic and structural reform programme is being supported equally by other donors, in particular the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the European Union.
Access to health care restored in Ndélé
Aide Médicale Internationale (AMI), an NGO, has been working in Bamingui-Bangoran province in the northeast of CAR since April 2007 with the aim of restoring access to primary health care, restarting routine immunization and reducing maternal and child illnesses and deaths. With this in mind, AMI has been supporting the hospital of Ndélé, the provincial capital, and 15 maternity homes and centers for the Expanded Immunization Programme (PEV) for over one year.
Before AMI's arrival, the number of patients seen at the Ndélé hospital was extremely low and the population mainly resorted to traditional medicine. Today, there is an average of 800 consultations per month at the hospital. Access to quality primary health care has been restored by a new organizational structure, the presence of one doctor, four nurses and midwives, and free drugs, all of which are paid for by AMI.
At the same time, AMI is emphasizing training and supervision to remedy the low level of knowledge of governmental health staff, for the most part first aid workers. Thanks to sustained advocacy with the Ministry of Health, seven qualified health workers, including the medical director of the hospital, have been recently reassigned to Bamingui-Bangoran. This is still insufficient, but it allows for the replacement of retired staff.
In spite of significant progress, there are still several gaps to be filled. Access to water remains a key problem at the hospital and is one of the priorities of AMI, who is working in collaboration with Solidarités, another NGO which is starting up activities in the province. Furthermore, the hospital needs to be rehabilitated and better equipped in the longer term.
The security environment is another source of concern for NGOs working in the area. The project strategy, which favors training and supervision in the field, down to the village level, entails a lot of road movements. The current threat of poachers and bandits has, so far, impeded NGOs' mobility and interfered to a large extent with many planned activities.
As a consequence, access to isolated villages is often impossible and their populations have to go without health care, information and goods which are all badly needed.
For more information: ndele.rdp.sat@amifrance.org
Responding to epidemics
The World Health Organization (WHO) has been supporting the Ministry of Health to adequately respond to the current urgent health issues in the country. As part of this ongoing support, 56,519 people have been vaccinated against yellow fever during a campaign in Bozoum, which resulted in an immunization coverage of 99 % in the area.
WHO also conducted a second mission to Begoua, 13 km from the capital, and to Alindao in Basse Kotto province. These two villages have been struck by a hepatitis E epidemic. The mission evaluated the quality of drinking water and found that 88 % of the investigated water sources were contaminated by bacteria. Urgent strategies such as raising awareness among the population, disinfecting the wells and protecting the water sources were recommended.
WHO also carried out a mission to follow up on the medical care of sexual violence survivors in the central provinces Ombella-Mpoko, Kémo and Nana- Grébizi. Five basic kits which included malaria treatment kits, were donated to the health centers so as to ensure survivors' access to adapted care.
Agriculture and infrastructure north of Paoua
Cooperazione Internationale (COOPI), an Italian NGO has been helping to ensure food security for the people living along the road north of Paoua, in the north west of CAR. The project, which started in December 2007, delivered improved seeds for staple crops (groundnuts, sorghum and maize) and agricultural tools to 6,600 households, or about 33,000 people. The households also benefits from trainings organized in collaboration with the Central African Agency for Agricultural Development (ACDA).
As part of the project, six broken down bridges are in the process of being rehabilitated to facilitate humanitarian access and transport on commercial roads.
About 120,000 people will directly benefit from this activity, as it allows them to sell their agricultural products on markets north of Paoua. The project, ending in September, is funded by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) to the tune of 500,000 EURO.
For more information: munao@coopi.org
Coordination
Staff news
Nicole Henze left as Head of Mission of Doctors without Borders Holland (MSF-H). She is replaced by Akke Boere. Contacts: msfh-carhom@ field.amsterdam.msf.org | 75 54 34 79
Valaria Cipolat is the new interim Head of Mission of The Mentor Initiative. Contacts: valaria@mentorinitiative. net | 75 74 02 54
Guillaume Kopp is the new Head of Mission of Solidarités. Contacts: sol_rca_bangui@yahoo.fr | 75 54 60 91
Roger Djiohou joined the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as Protection Officer. Contacts: rdjiohou@unicef.org | 75 53 68 98
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
Disclaimer
- Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team CAR
- Find more information on http://www.hdptcar.net/blog/