For over 20 years, the Central African Republic (CAR) has been experiencing chronic political and military instability. The country was plunged into chaos on March 24, 2013 following the overthrow of its former president François Bozizé by Seleka rebels, who formed a new government without real power or control over the nation. This long-neglected crisis has recently been the focus of media attention and renewed interest on the part of the international community.
The country’s prevailing insecurity has caused a serious humanitarian crisis affecting all of its 4.6 million people. Development and Peace has provided our partner Caritas Central African Republic with $50,000 to implement an emergency assistance project designed to meet the basic needs of displaced persons, to ensure that victims receive health care, and to enable hundreds of families to resume productive lives.
“The humanitarian situation is worsening by the day, and civilian populations have been the victims of countless atrocities. We are very concerned about the difficulties that these people are experiencing and are following developments very closely,” says Guy Des Aulniers, Emergency Relief Officer with Development and Peace.
A number of civil society organizations from the Central African Republic have called upon the world’s heads of state and the United Nations Security Council to help find a way out of their country’s crisis. The initiative is receiving full support from the Caritas Internationalis confederation, of which Development and Peace is the Canadian member.