UNHCR records a significant decrease in the number of urban refugees and asylum seekers in the CAR
UNHCR records a significant decrease in the number of urban refugees and asylum seekers in the CAR
UNHCR, 24 Aug 2014
URL: http://unhcr.org
BANGUI, 24 August 2014 – A significant decrease in the number of urban refugees and asylum seekers in the Central African Republic was attested at a verification exercise organized by UNHCR. Their current number in Bangui rests at about 1,921 people, in comparison to the more than 4,500 refugees and asylum seekers that had been registered in the fall of 2011.
During the country’s intercommunal conflict, the number of asylum seekers fell by 88% (from 2,604 to 332 people), while the number of refugees decreased by 18% (passing from 1,937 to 1,589 people). These numbers are subject to slight modifications, so as to take into account concerned individuals that weren’t in Bangui during the verification exercise.
As it is estimated, the refugees and asylum seekers that fled the Central African Republic either departed with the flights organized for third country nationals or moved by road to CAR’s neighboring countries. Those that have stayed originate from 16 countries (in comparison to 23 countries in 2011), and mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Chad, Sudan, Burundi, ROC, Ivory Coast, Angola etc.
The majority are of Christian denomination. A total of 115 refugees and asylum seekers are Muslim, coming from Chad (50 families), Sudan (17 families), South Sudan (4 families) and DRC (3 families). Among the refugees and asylum seekers, there are also followers of other faiths, like the Baha’i.
In its vast majority, this population is lacking regular work and a steady income. Being either students or unemployed, urban refugees and asylum seekers depend on small trade to survive. Others are working as housekeepers and cleaners; religious professionals; tailors, dressmakers and hatters; hairdressers, artists or motor vehicle mechanics. They arrived at the Central African Republic mainly at the end of the ‘90s, fleeing conflicts like the First Congo War or the Second Sudanese Civil War.
Many non-Muslim refugees and asylum seekers (345 people) received no education. Nevertheless, more than 230 people attended university and 22 among them studied at a post-graduate level. The majority speaks Sango. Before the conflict in the CAR, almost all refugee and asylum seeking children were attending school. Insecurity, though, as well as the conflict’s impact on the financial situation of their parents influenced heavily their educational patterns.
Before the conflict, most of the non-Muslim refugees and asylum seekers were staying at the 2nd, 6th and 4th district of Bangui. However, the volatile situation in the 4th district led to their movement in safer neighborhoods.
The majority of Bangui’s Muslim refugees live in the city’s 3rd district. Their freedom of movement is limited, as well as their access to employment, health or even food. Their living conditions are extremely precarious, as they are often identified with one side of the conflict, due to their country of origin, language or physical appearance.
The 1,921 urban refugees and asylum seekers in Bangui are part of the 8,047 refugees and asylum seekers that have remained in total in the country. The rest are located in rural areas, as well in two refugee camps, in Bambari (1,967 Sudanese refugees) and Zemio, (3,423 refugees from DRC). Their verification was realized with the support of the National Commission for Refugees (CNR) and the participation of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), UNHCR’s partner regarding the social aspects of assistance to this population.
The aim of the verification exercise was to update the figures of urban refugees and asylum seekers, as well as document their needs, in order to better target humanitarian assistance and work for durable solutions. UNHCR’s activities for these groups have five main goals:
• to secure their access at national protection and at asylum procedures, and protection against refoulement;
• to consolidate mechanisms of continuous registration and individual documentation;
• to diminish protection risks, including SGBV;
• to improve access to primary education and the development of income generating activities in specific cases;
• as well as to facilitate the voluntary repatriation and resettlement for refugees in high-risk.
During the country’s intercommunal conflict, the number of asylum seekers fell by 88% (from 2,604 to 332 people), while the number of refugees decreased by 18% (passing from 1,937 to 1,589 people). These numbers are subject to slight modifications, so as to take into account concerned individuals that weren’t in Bangui during the verification exercise.
As it is estimated, the refugees and asylum seekers that fled the Central African Republic either departed with the flights organized for third country nationals or moved by road to CAR’s neighboring countries. Those that have stayed originate from 16 countries (in comparison to 23 countries in 2011), and mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Chad, Sudan, Burundi, ROC, Ivory Coast, Angola etc.
The majority are of Christian denomination. A total of 115 refugees and asylum seekers are Muslim, coming from Chad (50 families), Sudan (17 families), South Sudan (4 families) and DRC (3 families). Among the refugees and asylum seekers, there are also followers of other faiths, like the Baha’i.
In its vast majority, this population is lacking regular work and a steady income. Being either students or unemployed, urban refugees and asylum seekers depend on small trade to survive. Others are working as housekeepers and cleaners; religious professionals; tailors, dressmakers and hatters; hairdressers, artists or motor vehicle mechanics. They arrived at the Central African Republic mainly at the end of the ‘90s, fleeing conflicts like the First Congo War or the Second Sudanese Civil War.
Many non-Muslim refugees and asylum seekers (345 people) received no education. Nevertheless, more than 230 people attended university and 22 among them studied at a post-graduate level. The majority speaks Sango. Before the conflict in the CAR, almost all refugee and asylum seeking children were attending school. Insecurity, though, as well as the conflict’s impact on the financial situation of their parents influenced heavily their educational patterns.
Before the conflict, most of the non-Muslim refugees and asylum seekers were staying at the 2nd, 6th and 4th district of Bangui. However, the volatile situation in the 4th district led to their movement in safer neighborhoods.
The majority of Bangui’s Muslim refugees live in the city’s 3rd district. Their freedom of movement is limited, as well as their access to employment, health or even food. Their living conditions are extremely precarious, as they are often identified with one side of the conflict, due to their country of origin, language or physical appearance.
The 1,921 urban refugees and asylum seekers in Bangui are part of the 8,047 refugees and asylum seekers that have remained in total in the country. The rest are located in rural areas, as well in two refugee camps, in Bambari (1,967 Sudanese refugees) and Zemio, (3,423 refugees from DRC). Their verification was realized with the support of the National Commission for Refugees (CNR) and the participation of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), UNHCR’s partner regarding the social aspects of assistance to this population.
The aim of the verification exercise was to update the figures of urban refugees and asylum seekers, as well as document their needs, in order to better target humanitarian assistance and work for durable solutions. UNHCR’s activities for these groups have five main goals:
• to secure their access at national protection and at asylum procedures, and protection against refoulement;
• to consolidate mechanisms of continuous registration and individual documentation;
• to diminish protection risks, including SGBV;
• to improve access to primary education and the development of income generating activities in specific cases;
• as well as to facilitate the voluntary repatriation and resettlement for refugees in high-risk.