A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
Since December 2013 when armed clashes erupted in the capital of Bangui in the Central African Republic (CAR) pitting predominantly Muslim Seleka and predominantly Christian Anti-Balaka militia groups; periodic violence has continued to affect the population, leading to injuries, deaths and the displacement of civilians across the country. As of August 2015, the situation in CAR remains unpredictable, and a return to normalcy is uncertain. Insecurity and banditry—including attacks on civilians and humanitarians, are reported on a daily basis, with implications for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, the affected population is left with extremely limited access to basic services.
Furthermore, security remains a major concern in and around the capital, with violence between the major armed groups continuing. On 17 July 2015, attacks were reported on two villages in Markounda in the north-western of the country, resulting in the displacement of at least 1,051 people. On 2 August 2015, clashes in the PK5 area of the third district of Bangui led to the death of one peacekeeper and injuries of eight others, worsening an already bad situation for internally displaced people (IDPs) that had settled in the area. Intense insecurity and displacements have also been experienced in the provinces, with areas such as Bambari, Bandoro, Batangafo, Birao, Kaga, Kouango and Markounda, being labelled “hot” areas. Cases of whole villages being totally burnt down in some areas have been reported by the Central African Red Cross (CARC) local committees and confirmed by the United Nations (UN) during the humanitarian coordination meetings. In CAR, the situation is complicated even further by the preparations for a constitutional referendum on 4 October 2015, followed by legislative and presidential elections on 18 October 2015 and a possible second round on 22 November 2015. In the midst of all these, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Population Movement Commission has reported that close to 131,000 people have begun to return to their districts of origin, mainly in the Kemo, Nana Gribizi, Ouham and Ouham Pende provinces in the western part of the country. More than 2,870 families (of 4,319 families) in the Bangui Airport camps have also left, although they have indicated that their houses and livelihoods that were destroyed in the violence remain in the same state. Nonetheless, many of those affected by the violence continue to reside in IDP camps, in enclaves, in the wilderness or with host communities. In many instances, they are unable to return due to risks of violence and abuse. In the western part of the country, it is estimated (CARC, June 2015) that more than 36,000 people remain trapped (Bangui (24,000 people), Berberati (456 people), Boda (9,000 people), Bouar (1,600 people), Carnot (522 people), Dekoa (105), and Yaloke (372 people) with limited access to basic essentials.
On 23 December 2013, a CHF 245,476 DREF operation was launched for three months to assist 25,000 beneficiaries in Bangui. On 25 February 2014, an Emergency Appeal (EA) for CHF 1,136,640 was launched to support the CARC to assist 50,000 people (10,000 families) for a period of 12 months. In response to the evolving situation, on 2 September 2014, Revised Emergency Appeal n°1 was issued for CHF 10,988,879 to assist 150,000 people (30,000 families). Over the past 18 months, IFRC in collaboration with the CARC and other partners has responded to the needs of the affected population, with interventions in the areas of emergency health, psychosocial support, water, hygiene and sanitation and advocacy for peace, among others.