UNHCR CAR: Inauguration of 5th Arrondissement “night shelter” Pilot Project
UNHCR CAR: Inauguration of 5th Arrondissement “night shelter” Pilot Project
http://data.unhcr.org/car/regional.php, 12 Feb 2014
URL: http://data.unhcr.org/car/regional.php
On the 12 February, the High Commissioner, António Guterres, accompanied by the French Minister of Defense, Jean-Yves le Drian, and the Mayor of the 5th Arrondissement, officially inaugurated the pilot “night shelter” project constructed by 50 youths employed by ACTED. This site has the capacity to host 3,000 persons and has 40 latrines and 15 showers.
The pilot project is part of the larger strategy to accompany IDPs who are ready to return to their neighborhoods. The idea is to revitalize their neighborhoods through cash-for-work projects engaging idle youth, improving health facilities and sanitary conditions, developing gardens and providing “night shelters” such as this first pilot. The aim is to create conditions that are conducive for returns for people living in IDP sites which are within kilometers of their homes. This pilot project is located in the neighborhood most affected by displacement; 51.8% of persons in the Airport Site are from this neighborhood.
The “night shelter” project dates back to early January, when the Protection Cluster proposed to MISCA and Sangaris the creation of several safe haven zones in Bangui. The Protection Cluster observed that around 50% (PU-AMI Report confirms) of M’Poko residents return to their neighborhoods during the day and feared to stay overnight in their own neighborhoods. These havens are to be secured by international troops, thus providing a safe place for IDPs to sleep during incidents of insecurity.
Recently, large numbers of persons began moving back to their neighborhoods. In Bangui close to 125,000 are estimated to have returned home between 4 and 11 February. However, challenges persist as the security situation remains extremely volatile. On the night from 15 to 16 February, an unidentified assailant threw a grenade into the compound, injuring persons that were in the site. The impact of this attack and the motive is not yet known. What is clear is that this reinforces the High Commissioner’s call for additional troops, including police forces. UNHCR is concerned that this could have a negative impact on returns.
By: Hugo Reichenberger, Reporting Officer, REICHENB@unhcr.org
The pilot project is part of the larger strategy to accompany IDPs who are ready to return to their neighborhoods. The idea is to revitalize their neighborhoods through cash-for-work projects engaging idle youth, improving health facilities and sanitary conditions, developing gardens and providing “night shelters” such as this first pilot. The aim is to create conditions that are conducive for returns for people living in IDP sites which are within kilometers of their homes. This pilot project is located in the neighborhood most affected by displacement; 51.8% of persons in the Airport Site are from this neighborhood.
The “night shelter” project dates back to early January, when the Protection Cluster proposed to MISCA and Sangaris the creation of several safe haven zones in Bangui. The Protection Cluster observed that around 50% (PU-AMI Report confirms) of M’Poko residents return to their neighborhoods during the day and feared to stay overnight in their own neighborhoods. These havens are to be secured by international troops, thus providing a safe place for IDPs to sleep during incidents of insecurity.
Recently, large numbers of persons began moving back to their neighborhoods. In Bangui close to 125,000 are estimated to have returned home between 4 and 11 February. However, challenges persist as the security situation remains extremely volatile. On the night from 15 to 16 February, an unidentified assailant threw a grenade into the compound, injuring persons that were in the site. The impact of this attack and the motive is not yet known. What is clear is that this reinforces the High Commissioner’s call for additional troops, including police forces. UNHCR is concerned that this could have a negative impact on returns.
By: Hugo Reichenberger, Reporting Officer, REICHENB@unhcr.org