In March of 2013 a crisis was declared in Central African Republic (CAR) after rebels seized power. The coup forced almost all humanitarian groups out of the country, leaving most of the country’s population without aid. Due to the crisis most of the citizens of CAR do not have access to basic medical services. The rebel coalition has ransacked schools, health clinics and hospitals. Many are afraid to leave their homes because of the violent rebel presence.

“The attacks have deprived an already vulnerable population – 4.4 million people spread across a country bigger than France – of access to even basic medical treatment,” said Doctors Without Borders in a recent report released about the crisis in CAR. “In a country which already had the second-lowest life expectancy in the world, at just 48 years, the people are now even more at risk.”

UNICEF has just delivered its third shipment of aid to Central African Republic filled with life-saving humanitarian supplies. The shipment weighed the equivalent of six large truck-loads. The shipment includes medicines and health supplies to treat over 20,000 people, tarpaulins to provide emergency shelter for 1,000 families, 400 boxes of therapeutic milk to treat severely malnourished children, and health and nutrition equipment to benefit children and women most affected bot the violent crisis. The shipment is aimed to reach those in the interior of the country who have little access to humanitarian aid and are in the greatest need.

“This is the largest shipment of supplies we have received since the crisis began. These life-saving supplies will be delivered immediately to affected communities across the Central African Republic,” said UNICEF representative Souleymane Diabate. “This month, through the work of mobile teams, we re-established a presence in the interior of the country and the supplies will be used to ensure that the health and nutritional needs of the most vulnerable women and children are met.”

Since the crisis, UNICEF has managed to organize a humanitarian response that has impaced the lives of 223,000 people. These people now have access to basic health services and medicines thanks to UNICEF. They have also treated 10,035 children with severe acute malnutrition and seen improvement in the children’s health. UNICEF has also vaccinated 123,000 children against measles and hopes to vaccinate the rest of the country before the end of September.

UNICEF hopes to expand its emergency response initiative in CAR and has currently raised US$8 million from donations. They hope to raise US $24 million to scale-up efforts.

– Catherine Ulirch

Sources: UNICEF, AllAfrica