2015 HIGHLIGHTS
· Although violence has now subsided in some parts of CAR, the security situation in 2015 remains volatile, and armed groups are still active. There are more than 450,000 Central African refugees in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo and Chad, while an estimated of 436,000 persons are internally displaced.
· Persisting insecurity in many areas continues to impede MSF’s ability to reach people in need through its 16 projects. MSF’s mobile clinics have been stopped by armed elements on numerous occasions around cities like Batangafo, Kabo, Bambari and Boguila, hindering access to people in more remote locations where there are no functioning health facilities.
· Even though the situation seemed calmer by March, there was actually an increase in incidents mostly in the north-west of the country near the Chadian border. The incidents are more directed at civilians than NGOs.
· Towards the end of 2014, armed clashes between rebel groups with the implication of nomadic Peuhl cattle herders drove a growing number of displaced people into the camp in Batangafo. By the end of April 2015, approximately 35,000 people were residing in the camp. Besides running a hospital,
MSF has deployed seven health agents to closely monitor the sanitary and health situation of the displaced.
· The two years of political crisis have exacerbated the country’s pre-existing shortage of health services, leaving Central African Republic in a state of a protracted chronic health emergency, or desert sanitaire. In some areas like Kouango, routine vaccinations have not been carried out for two years, and fewer than 50% of children in CAR have been vaccinated against infectious diseases. As a result of the conflict, 72.5% of the country’s facilities are either destroyed or not functioning.
Moreover, epidemiological surveillance in CAR is currently non-existent.
· In February, the government announced measles, rubella and rabies epidemics. In response, MSF organised three mass measles vaccination campaigns for children under 15 in the town of Bria, at the displaced people camp in Batangafo, as well as in Batangafo town and the cities of Nzako and Bakouma. By the end of March, 33,000 children had been vaccinated.
· Malaria remains a major killer throughout MSF’s projects in CAR, in some areas accounting for 90% of cases, taking the greatest toll on children below the age of five. The protracted conflict and displacement, lack of resources and access to basic health care are the biggest obstacles to fighting malaria in CAR.
· In February, following reports that around 30,000 people from Kouango province in the south of CAR had fled into neighbouring DRC and other parts of CAR, MSF travelled to the area to evaluate humanitarian needs. MSF have put in place mobile clinics, as well as support for the hospital in Kouango, providing secondary healthcare.
· For more than a year Muslim populations have remained locked within enclaves in cities like Berberati or Carnot, among others. MSF continues to support the enclaves with mobile clinics and referrals to the hospital for both children and adults, and continues to closely monitor the situation and needs.
· January and February saw a lot of tension and recurrent clashes in Bambari (Ouaka), not only between the different armed groups, but also within those groups. In April and May the situation remained highly volatile and the underlying tensions have not improved. People are often afraid to move and MSF has tried to reach the different communities by providing healthcare to all sides.
Local attacks on different villages by various elements occurred, during which the population was harassed.