UNHCR is expanding its activities in the Central African Republic
UNHCR is expanding its activities in the Central African Republic
UNHCR, 04 Aug 2014
URL: http://www.unhcr.org
BANGUI, 4 August 2014 – The UN Refugee Agency is expanding its activities in the Central African Republic, in the areas of border monitoring, social cohesion, protection monitoring and the fight against sexual and gender based violence. While 399,530 refugees from the CAR have fled to neighboring states and 527,000 people are living in conditions of internal displacement, UNHCR is strengthening its presence in the country, so as to safeguard the rights of the population, provide them with assistance and create the conditions that will facilitate their return.
Through a new partnership with the NGO IEDA Relief, the UN Refugee Agency is bolstering its presence in the CAR’s border areas with Cameroon and Chad. The influx of refugees in these countries and the continuous movement through their frontiers render imperative and urgent the follow-up their situation, as well as the understanding of their movements’ trends. UNHCR’s new border monitoring project aims to cover these needs, by setting up, among others, an early warning mechanism for big population movements, including those of communities at risk, and for possible violations of the principle of non refoulement. Besides, the project foresees trainings and awareness raising activities for border officials, local opinion leaders and the local population, as well as the continuous evaluation of the living conditions at border areas, like the access to basic social services.
Meanwhile, in order to set up the ground for peaceful coexistence, mediation of disputes among social groups and possible reconciliation, UNHCR has inaugurated a social cohesion project in cooperation with the NGO Search for Common Ground. In seven cities in central and western CAR (Boda, Kaga Bandoro, Bambari, Yaloke, Bouar, Bossangoa and Bangui), UNHCR’s partner has already started to organize a number of social cohesion activities, such as the diffusion of radio spots, participatory theater productions and education for peace campaigns. The aim of these activities is to fight against fear, stereotypes, mistrust and the trauma of war, since this is essential not only for the possible return of the displaced, but also for the stabilization of the country and to save lives, in a context of high insecurity.
In the province of Nana Mambere and the county of Yaloke in Ombella-M’poko, UNHCR’s partner Mercy Corps will also be creating and strengthening mechanisms for the monitoring of protection issues, especially as regards sexual and gender based violence (SGBV). Since December 2012, these regions have been deeply affected by waves of armed conflict. The numerous cases of human rights violations created physical and emotional trauma to a part of the population. SGBV remains prevalent; there are limited response services, while there is an absence of community-based protection structures and mechanisms. The new project of UNHCR and Mercy Corps aims to protect the conflict-affected communities, through the monitoring of rights violations, the provision of holistic response services, and the strengthening of community-based organizations, which can both work as a social safety net and induce community members to act for the prevention of such violations.
Through a new partnership with the NGO IEDA Relief, the UN Refugee Agency is bolstering its presence in the CAR’s border areas with Cameroon and Chad. The influx of refugees in these countries and the continuous movement through their frontiers render imperative and urgent the follow-up their situation, as well as the understanding of their movements’ trends. UNHCR’s new border monitoring project aims to cover these needs, by setting up, among others, an early warning mechanism for big population movements, including those of communities at risk, and for possible violations of the principle of non refoulement. Besides, the project foresees trainings and awareness raising activities for border officials, local opinion leaders and the local population, as well as the continuous evaluation of the living conditions at border areas, like the access to basic social services.
Meanwhile, in order to set up the ground for peaceful coexistence, mediation of disputes among social groups and possible reconciliation, UNHCR has inaugurated a social cohesion project in cooperation with the NGO Search for Common Ground. In seven cities in central and western CAR (Boda, Kaga Bandoro, Bambari, Yaloke, Bouar, Bossangoa and Bangui), UNHCR’s partner has already started to organize a number of social cohesion activities, such as the diffusion of radio spots, participatory theater productions and education for peace campaigns. The aim of these activities is to fight against fear, stereotypes, mistrust and the trauma of war, since this is essential not only for the possible return of the displaced, but also for the stabilization of the country and to save lives, in a context of high insecurity.
In the province of Nana Mambere and the county of Yaloke in Ombella-M’poko, UNHCR’s partner Mercy Corps will also be creating and strengthening mechanisms for the monitoring of protection issues, especially as regards sexual and gender based violence (SGBV). Since December 2012, these regions have been deeply affected by waves of armed conflict. The numerous cases of human rights violations created physical and emotional trauma to a part of the population. SGBV remains prevalent; there are limited response services, while there is an absence of community-based protection structures and mechanisms. The new project of UNHCR and Mercy Corps aims to protect the conflict-affected communities, through the monitoring of rights violations, the provision of holistic response services, and the strengthening of community-based organizations, which can both work as a social safety net and induce community members to act for the prevention of such violations.