Highlights Clashes in the north west of CAR New MINURCAT Police Chief World Bank provides US$ 7 million for Food Response Project UN Humanitarian Air Service in jeopardy Background and security Clashes in the north west of CAR After suspending their participation in the Inclusive Political Dialogue, several clashes between the Popular army for the restoration of democracy [...]

hdptcar posted a photo: Takeshi Nishimura, photographer for the Japanese newspaper The Mainichi is working on digital equipment in a street of Bocaranga, Ouaham Pende Prefecture, northwest CAR, 30 June 2008. Credits: Pierre Holtz for UNICEF | hdptcar.net

hdptcar posted a photo: A woman and her daughter, members of the Peuhl ethnic group, are attending a meeting between women involved in community activities supported by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Paoua, Ouaham Prefecture, north-western CAR, 30 June 2008. The Peuhl ethnic group is mainly nomadic cattle herders traveling across. Through trade and cattle the Peuhl have traditionally injected much needed cash into the region’s economy. As a result, they are specifically targeted by bandits and think to fix women and children in town - a safer heaven for this community. Credits: Pierre Holtz for UNICEF | hdptcar.net

Highlights Special Representative of UN Secretary General Francois Lonseny Fall calls for a continuation of the national political dialogue in CAR Fifteen killed and 28 wounded in a traffic accident in Balatete-Azene near Mbrès in the centre-north Background and security UN calls for a continuation of the political dialogue In a press release published on 6 August, [...]

Photo: Pierre Holtz for UNICEF CAR A member of a self-defense group carrying his traditional rifle in a flower field, near the village of Sambaye, 10 km west of Bozoum, in north-western Central African Republic. Self-defense groups help to ward off the threat of bandits who loot, kidnap and sometimes kill, allowing more families to return to [...]

When families are forced to flee their villages because of violence, they often have to leave behind some of their most valuable assets: seeds and tools for farming. This leads to an even bigger loss: their harvest. Because of ongoing violence, food security is a major issue in the Central African Republic. [...]

In the western part of the Central African Republic (CAR) lies the Nana-Mambéré prefecture, divided in two by CAR’s primary trade route with Cameroon. The road is the country’s most important lifeline (for supplies coming from Douala’s port), and also its only real possibility for trading timber or agricultural exports internationally. To support farming communities in [...]

hdptcar posted a photo: People queueing up for their seed kits. Credits: Jenny Vaughan for Mercy Corps | hdptcar.net

hdptcar posted a photo: Credits: Jenny Vaughan for Mercy Corps | hdptcar.net

Highlights The Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD) suspends its participation in the process leading up to the political dialogue. A barge crossing the Oubangui river in CAR, sank, killing 42. Background and security The APRD pulls out of the political dialogue The President of the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD), Jean-Jacques Démafouth said [...]

In the Central African Republic, UNICEF, with funding from the European Commission, is supporting bush schools to provide education and a sense of normalcy to displaced children.

hdptcar posted a photo: A sick child is receiving glucose under the close surveillance of his grand-mother and the medical staff of the hospital of Ngaoundaye, close to the border with Chad, 90 km north of Bocaranga, Ouaham Pende Prefecture, northwest CAR, 29 June 2008. Credits: Pierre Holtz for UNICEF | hdptcar.net

hdptcar posted a photo: A medical staff member is putting a child on a glucose drip after having diagnosed severe anemia associated with malaria at the hospital of Ngaoundaye, close to the border with Chad, 90 km north of Bocaranga, Ouaham Pende Prefecture, northwest CAR, 29 June 2008. In CAR, Malaria and diarrhea are the leading causes of death among children under the age of 5. Credits: Pierre Holtz for UNICEF | hdptcar.net

The UNICEF representation in the Central African Republic has just published their monthly report for June 2008. It contains an excellent overview on the current humanitarian, political and security situation, as well as a description of UNICEF’s projects in CAR. Here is the summary: CAR is placed on the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission’s agenda Peace agreement signed between [...]

Highlights General Abdoulaye Miskine, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces of Central Africa (UFDC) says he is ready to sign the Global Peace Agreement China donates agricultural equipment and office supplies worth $450,000 Background and security Miskine ready to sign the peace agreement General Abdoulaye Miskine, leader of [...]

hdptcar posted a photo: An old man holds his head on his hands, sit on his mat in the compound of his straw-made hut in a Birao’s district where 171 Sudanese refugees, mostly women and children, have taken refuge end 2007, Vakaga prefecture, north-eastern CAR, 24 June 2008.

hdptcar posted a photo: A woman from Darfur and her two boys in a front of her straw-made hut in a Birao’s district where 171 Sudanese refugees, mostly women and children, have taken refuge end 2007, Vakaga prefecture, north-eastern CAR, 24 June 2008.

Rebel excersizing in a training camp in north-eastern CAR. Now that years of conflict in the Central African Republic are starting to wind down,  opportunities for economic recovery have begun to open up in many parts of the north.  There are still many challenges; principle among them road banditry which places a heavy burden on trade [...]

The road to Ndélé On the road to Ndélé, the Central African Republic’s (CAR) largest northern city,  Kotamale is just another isolated village in the Nana Grebizi prefecture.  However, Kotomale is also home to one of a few small, dilapidated bridges that span the Kodo river. In order for a truck to cross the Kodo river, the [...]

Highlights $ 9 million grant from China Energy crisis hits hospitals in Bangui Assistance to the displaced in Kamba Kota and Batangafo in Ouham province Departure of Toby Lanzer Background and security Deadly attack near Sibut On 16 July, bandits, also known as zaraguinas, opened fire on the vehicle of the official representative of the Forestry Ministry, Pierre Ndikini, in the region [...]