Norwegian Refugee Council

Published purpose

March 2016 - Following a coup d’état in March 2013, the humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) deteriorated rapidly, as inter-communal violence spun out of control and led to thousands of deaths, massive human displacement, and grave human rights abuses. Despite a transitional government in place and the presence of international troops, including a 10,000-person strong United Nations peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA), communities across CAR continue to be plagued by violence, armed criminality, and widespread humanitarian needs. At present, more than 2.3 million people, more than half the population, require humanitarian assistance, over 480,000 people are internally displaced, and 450,000 are living in neighbouring countries as refugees. Widespread insecurity and looting of humanitarian actors are hindering their ability to respond to needs relating to widespread food insecurity, high levels of child malnutrition, and maternal and child mortality rates among the highest in the world. With GAC’s support, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is helping to meet the emergency shelter, basic household item, as well as water and sanitation needs of up to 15,911 conflict-affected people in the Mambéré-Kadéi and Bamingui-Bangoran regions. The project also focuses on improving the capacity of humanitarian agencies to negotiate access to vulnerable populations. Project activities include: (1) rehabilitating ten wells; (2) providing chlorine kits to 1,000 households; (3) constructing 20 latrines and 20 shower stalls; (4) completing a hygiene and sanitation campaign carried out by ten hygiene committees; (5) constructing temporary shelters for up to 500 displaced or returnee households and equipping them with basic household items; (6) completing four trainings on humanitarian principles and “do no harm” for humanitarian staff, local authorities, and community leaders; and (7) undertaking two awareness-raising campaigns on humanitarian principles and humanitarian access, reaching 2,000 community members.