Refugee assistance in Central Africa - UNHCR 2013

October 2013 – Since the beginning of the year more than 90 000 people from Sudan and the Central African Republic have been forced to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. In the Darfur region of Sudan inter-communal conflict has led 30 000 Darfuris (primarily women and children) to seek safety in Chad. In neighbouring Central African Republic the escalation of violence by rebel groups and the violent overthrow of the country’s president have resulted in displacement looting and the destruction of property and livelihoods. Some 64 000 people have fled to neighbouring countries. With the support of Canada and other donors the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is ramping up its emergency operations in Cameroon Chad the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to assist tens of thousands of newly arrived refugees from the Central African Republic and Sudan. Activities focus on providing basic services to refugees including shelter essential relief items such as blankets soap and mosquito nets water and sanitation facilities medical care protection and livelihoods support.

Expected outputs include: (i) protection and basic assistance is provided to vulnerable refugees; (ii) identified survivors of sexual violence are provided with material assistance and psycho-social support; (iii) vulnerable refugees are relocated to established camps; (iv) vulnerable refugees are provided with livelihoods opportunities for self-sufficiency; and (v) an environment conducive to the voluntary return of refugees is created. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.