Assistance to Vulnerable Populations in the Central African Republic - UNICEF 2009

The humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) is the result of more than a decade of internal conflict and growing criminal violence. Bandits continue to take advantage of the absence of the state in many parts of the country and attack travelers or entire villages. One million people in the CAR including 197 000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) now rely on international assistance to meet their basic needs. Key humanitarian needs include food; clean water and sanitation services; emergency medical care; nutritional support; and shelter. CIDA's contribution is supporting the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to help meet the basic humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable populations particularly women and children affected by the conflict and insecurity in CAR. UNICEF has been selected as lead humanitarian response agency in five priority assistance areas in the country: those of water sanitation and hygiene support services; education; nutrition; shelter; and the provision of non-food relief items. This CIDA grant allows UNICEF to act flexibly to determine where needs are greatest in these assistance areas and to direct funds accordingly.