Amid rising tensions, Humanity & Inclusion is implementing health, logistics and inclusion projects in the Central African Republic. Based in Bangui, Bambari and Bangassou, its teams are ready to help people caught up in the worsening conflict.
"The Central African Republic has entered a new cycle of violence," explains Coralie Frémion, Humanity & Inclusion’s Program Director in the Central African Republic. "Since mid-December, there has been a resurgence in fighting between government forces and their allies on the one hand, and the Coalition of Patriots for Change on the other."
Population severely affected by conflict
The Central African Republic depends on imports for certain food, fuel and industrial products.
"For the last two months, traffic along the country's main road from Bangui to Douala in Cameroon, through which most imported goods usually transit, has been disrupted by insecurity and armed violence,” Frémion says. "This has impacted everyone in the Central African Republic because it has caused a spike in inflation."
The price of rice in Bangui, for example, increased 43% in January 2021.
Since December, the crisis has resulted in more than 120,000 new internally displaced people in addition to 600,000 people who were already displaced. A quarter of the country’s population–1.3 million people–are internally displaced or living in neighboring countries
"This raises serious concerns about the protection of civilians and humanitarian actors," Frémion explains. "Yet despite this context and the insecurity, Humanity & Inclusion and many NGOs continue to provide assistance."
Work continues despite challenges
In partnership with Première Urgence Internationale, and with funding from USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, Humanity & Inclusion is working to distribute supplies in the Central African Republic. Humanity & Inclusion's six-person logistics team is on stand-by to deliver essential aid on behalf of all humanitarian organizations working in the country, transporting supplies including medicine, vaccines, Covid-19 kits, and kits of essential items such as blankets, plastic sheets, soap, school supplies and construction materials.
Humanity & Inclusion’s transport of humanitarian cargo by air is likely to play an increasingly important role in keeping supplies available. Air freight is sometimes the only way to reach the most vulnerable people easily and quickly, and Humanity & Inclusion’s program covers 24 destinations.
In addition, Humanity & Inclusion physical rehabilitation project has provided care to several injured people in Bambari, a town in the center of the country, where armed clashes have taken place. In January, 70% of Humanity & Inclusion’s patients were wounded in the conflict. All had bullet wounds.
Humanity & Inclusion’s nine-person team provides physical therapy, psychosocial support, mobility aids, prosthetics and orthotics to people with disabilities and injuries in the region.
