UNHCR welcomes China’s support for refugees and internally displaced people in the Central African Republic

Bangui, 27 March 2026 - UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the People’s Republic of China’s contribution to provide critical humanitarian assistance to refugees and internally displaced people in the Central African Republic.

The contribution from China’s Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund (GDF) will enable UNHCR to distribute essential household items to approximately 89,500 refugees and internally displaced people, or 17,900 households, meeting their urgent humanitarian needs and restoring dignity, safety, and protection for those uprooted by conflict.

This is the first collaboration between China Aid and UNHCR in the Central African Republic.

“We are deeply grateful for China’s solidary and generosity. This partnership will not only bring a sense of normalcy and stability for displaced families in difficult conditions, but also strengthen their resilience, foster hope, and enable them to focus on recovery and longer-term solutions”, said William Chemaly, UNHCR Representative in the Central African Republic.

“As African nations pursue peace and development while facing challenges and crises, China has consistently been a trusted friend and partner. This assistance reflects China’s commitment to international humanitarian responsibilities and its principles of ‘sincerity, real results, amity and good faith’ in China-Africa cooperation”, said H.E. Li Qinfeng, Ambassador of China to the Central African Republic.

“We firmly believe that the international community is one global family, where countries share a common destiny, and that only through solidarity and cooperation can we effectively address global challenges,” he added.

The Central African Republic faces one of the world’s most protracted humanitarian crises. The country hosts more than 63,000 refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Chad, as well as more than 427,000 internally displaced people.

Displaced families in the Central African Republic often arrive in remote, overcrowded, under-resourced areas without the most basic items, which increases their vulnerability to exposure, disease, malnutrition, and protection risks. Access to essential household items such as blankets, sleeping mats, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, plastic sheeting, solar lamps, and hygiene-related items, secured through China Aid’s support, is providing a critical humanitarian lifeline for displaced families, helping them meet immediate needs while laying the foundation for recovery and longer-term stability.

“The Government of the Central African Republic sincerely thanks the Government of China for its generous support. Together, we stand in solidarity with the most vulnerable to build a future of stability, dignity, and peace”, said Madame Josiane Lina Bemaka-Soui, Minister of Humanitarian Action, Solidarity and National Reconciliation of the Central African Republic.

UNHCR continues to work closely with Government of the Central African Republic and partners to protect and assist displaced people, focusing on a practical solutions that connect humanitarian action, peace efforts and long-term development.

In 2026 and beyond, UNHCR will focus on helping displaced people rebuild their lives by improving basic services like education, health, water, protection, and livelihoods. UNHCR will also work to include refugees in national systems and support areas where people return so these communities can become safer, stronger, and more stable over time.

As of March 2026, UNHCR's response to the needs of refugees and internally displaced people in Central African Republic is only 12 per cent funded, against total requirements of 112 million. Additional funding is urgently needed to support the life-saving and development needs of the displaced people.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact:

Gloria Ramazani, External Relations Officer - Bangui - [email protected]

Ying Hu, Associate External Relations Officer – Bangui [email protected]