August 09, 2026 08:23 pm (IST)
Follow us:
UN seeks emergency funds to aid civilians fleeing CAR
New York, Apr 17 (IBNS): United Nations humanitarian agencies and their partners on Wednesday launched a joint appeal to donors to fund emergency operations in support of the growing number of people who have been fleeing the conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) since last December.
Nearly 200,000 Central Africans, third country nationals and returnees who escaped violence in CAR over the past four months are now struggling to restart their lives in the impoverished countries of Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Congo, according to a news release.
The USD 274 million sought for the CAR Regional Response Plan is needed to cover pressing needs for shelter, food, water and sanitation, health, education and basic needs for those uprooted in the region – estimated to reach 362,200 by the end of this year – as well as for registration and building reception facilities and camps.
“All the agencies working in the region are dramatically underfunded,” the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, said in his presentation of the Response Plan to delegates meeting in Geneva.
He said the refugee agency (UNHCR) is already spending three times the money that has been received or pledged for this emergency and still far less than the staggering needs of the people. “This cannot be sustained,” Guterres stressed.
In addition to those who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, more than 600,000 are also internally displaced in CAR and 2.2 million, about half the country’s population, are in need of humanitarian aid as a result of the conflict which began in December 2012 with attacks by mainly Muslim Séléka rebels.
Séléka fighters clashed with Christian youth organized under the anti-Balaka movement, which is now targeting Muslim communities in the capital, Bangui, and in the west of the country.
Communal violence has had a devastating effect on civilians of both communities, with over 600,000 people still displaced inside CAR. The mainly women and children fleeing atrocities in CAR are arriving in neighbouring countries deeply traumatized, many wounded by machete or gunshot, malnourished and exhausted from weeks of walking and hiding, UNHCR reported.
(The conflict in the Central African Republic has destroyed countless livelihoods and disrupted food production. Photo: WFP/Rein Skullerud)
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Iran releases new video of Mojtaba Khamenei amid health speculation
Sun, Aug 09 2026
Kyiv hit again: Child among three killed in Russian drone strikes, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says
Sat, Aug 08 2026
Thailand school bloodbath: Suspect killed grandparents before attack that left six dead
Fri, Aug 07 2026
Horror in Thailand: Teacher among 2 killed in deadly school shooting
Fri, Aug 07 2026
Iran's President meets Mojtaba Khamenei in 'darkened' car, later asks: 'Was it really him?'
Thu, Aug 06 2026
Princess Isabella makes history as first Danish royal woman to begin full military service
Wed, Aug 05 2026
Zelenskyy shares chilling video of Russian drone 'hunting' civilian in human safari attack
Wed, Aug 05 2026
Why is Nauru now called Naoero? All you need to know
Tue, Aug 04 2026