Central African Republic

2012 UNHCR country operations profile - Central African Republic

Working environment

The context

The Central African Republic (CAR) has suffered from many decades of political upheaval and military crises that have had serious consequences on all sectors of the country. There is a chronic lack of infrastructure, with very little effective government presence outside the capital, Bangui, posing serious logistical and administrative challenges to operations. The legal system is very fragile; violators of human rights enjoy relative impunity, which in turn can lead to mob justice. The CAR suffers from a high level of poverty, further pronounced in areas affected by conflict, making recruitment of young people into various armed groups easy.

There has been massive displacement both within the CAR and to neighbouring countries. To date, some 130,000 CAR refugees have sought refuge in Cameroon, Chad and Sudan, while an estimated 176,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) remain within the country, living in constant fear of violence in clashes between armed groups. In addition, long, porous borders with neighbouring countries that have internal conflicts of their own exacerbate the security situation in the CAR, which possesses only a small national army and ill-equipped police force. Nevertheless the country hosts some 18,000 refugees, including around 12,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Lately, however, there has been a growing sense of optimism as the Government has shown its commitment to concluding the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme throughout the country by the end of 2011. This has raised hopes of peace and stability in the region. In addition, the ceasefire agreement signed recently by the Government and an armed group in the north-east of the country is expected to contribute to an improvement in security in that area. These signs of progress are appearing following nationwide elections in March 2011 that took place without violence. There are already reports of some returns of IDPs to their places of origin. But it is uncertain for how long the optimism can be sustained, particularly if there is no economic growth to bring jobs and development to the people.

The needs

The persistence of poverty and joblessness in the country means that most people of concern rely on UNHCR for assistance. Due to the weak judicial system and inadequate law enforcement, UNHCR has to make extra efforts to ensure that international protection is available to refugees. Most IDPs lack documentation and are at great risk of statelessness. Many of them are too poor to afford these essential documents or have lost them while fleeing their villages. The administrative services and public institutions often lack the resources even to issue documents.

Most IDPs survive in the bush as their villages were burnt, social and sanitary infrastructure looted or destroyed, and their livestock stolen. Crucial needs include shelter, water, basic health and education. Traditional practices, such as violence related to witchcraft accusations, endanger women and girls. People at risk lack access to justice, legal advice and non-violent mechanisms for conflict resolution.

Reinforcing prevention mechanisms for sexual and gender-based violence in the camps is essential as traditional beliefs have significant deleterious effects on the behaviour of people of concern. Sanitation and hygiene are unsatisfactory in rural areas and need constant attention, and there are many health problems in and around the refugee camps.

Urban refugees opting for local integration need support as means of livelihood are non-existent. They need support to change their legal status, become naturalized and obtain work permits. Moreover, repatriation and resettlement opportunities need to be identified and used as additional durable solutions.

Main objectives and targets for 2012

Fair protection processes and documentation

Birth registration, profiling and individual documentation based on registration is secured.

• The percentage of people at risk of statelessness with individual documentation rises from 20 to 50 per cent.

Security from violence and exploitation

Protection risks faced by people of concern, in particular discrimination, sexual and gender-based violence and child recruitment is reduced.

• All known IDP survivors of sexual violence receive support.

Basic needs and services

International standards in relation to shelter, domestic energy, water, sanitation and hygiene are met.

• All households live in adequate dwellings.
• Around 20 litres of potable water is available per person per day in the camps.
• All households are provided with appropriate types of latrines.
• All women receive sanitary supplies.

Malnutrition and anemia are reduced, major causes of morbidity and mortality are addressed and adequate reproductive health is provided.

• All people living with HIV and/or AIDS receive treatment.
• Some 70 per cent of people of concern have access to primary health care services.

Durable solutions

Potential for durable solutions achieved.

• Around 50 per cent of IDPs returning voluntarily to their places of origin are provided with return assistance.
• Some 10 per cent of urban refugees are integrated locally.
• Around 10 per cent of individual cases at risk are submitted for resettlement.

Strategy and activities in 2012

Urban refugees

UNHCR will pursue the legal and socio-economic integration of the urban residual caseload by lobbying for change in their legal status, naturalization and the issuance of work permits. It will ensure that people of concern are treated fairly, efficiently and without discrimination when seeking protection, that they receive adequate documentation, and have access to fair and efficient status-determination procedures. The refugee status determination (RSD) backlog will be reduced by half in 2012 and completely cleared by the end of 2013.

Refugees in rural areas

The situation in Equateur Province in the DRC will continue to be monitored to confirm if conditions there are conducive to the voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees in rural areas in 2012-2013. Information-sharing and cross-border visits will be conducted in conjunction with UNHCR in Kinshasa. An intention-to-return survey as well as profiling for durable solutions among Congolese refugees will be conducted to review the durable-solutions strategy for the camps hosting Congolese.

Due to the persistence of insecure conditions in south Darfur, there are no prospects for return in 2012-2013 for the Sudanese refugees. A durable-solutions strategy will be reviewed in 2011 with Government counterparts and other relevant stakeholders. In the meantime, resettlement will continue to be used as a protection tool.

IDPs

In order to prevent statelessness, national authorities will be assisted to provide identity cards to IDPs and refugees returning spontaneously from Cameroon and Chad.

UNHCR will endeavour to reduce the incidence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), with particular focus on witchcraft accusations, and ensure the reintegration of survivors in dignity and safety. The sustainable return of IDPs in the areas of major return of CAR refugees in Chad and Cameroon is another priority.

Constraints

The main challenges facing UNHCR in the CAR include the fragile socio-economic environment and logistical problems related to bad roads and ageing trucks. The continuous and repetitive resurgence of violence jeopardizes results achieved over the years, and hinders the provision of assistance to IDPs and returning refugees.

The lack of improvement in the socio-economic situation coupled with the persistent insecurity in some parts of the country hampers the repatriation of CAR refugees from Cameroon and Chad. The political situation in southern Sudan, the DRC, Chad and Darfur remains fragile and any deterioration could cause a refugee influx into the CAR, stretching the already meagre resources available in the country.

Organization and implementation

Coordination

Given the persistent volatile security situation in the CAR, UNHCR and its partners will maintain the level of engagement in the monitoring of displacement as well as the humanitarian assistance to displaced people and returnees. UNHCR chairs the protection cluster in addressing the humanitarian assistance for IDPs,. While activities that address SGVB and HIV and AIDS will be mainstreamed into the 2012-2013 programme, UNICEF remains the focal point for women and children and UNDP will oversee the rule of law sector. Finally, BINUCA will lead the human rights programme.

Financial information

UNHCR's budget has increased significantly in the Central African republic since 2007 and particularly in 2010 to address the influx of DRC refugees but also due to the increase of the number of IDPs in the country.

The increase in the UNHCR programme for IDPs and refugees is mainly due to the relocation of refugees from Darfur in Bambari, but also to address gaps identified during the global needs assessment.

Source: UNHCR Global Appeal 2012-2013