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Displaced children in CARNovember 2008

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Numbers at a glance

Total population 4,302,360

IDPs 108,000

Refugees in Cameroon, Chad, Sudan 104,000

People in forced displacement 212,000

5% of population

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50% of all IDPs in CAR are children

61% of IDPs in Ouham and Ouham-Pendé are children

Disproportionate effect on children

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Causes of displacement

Conflict and displacement ongoing since 2005 Until 2007, causes of displacement mainly clashes

between government forces and rebel groups New causes of displacement are attacks by road

bandits known as coupeurs de route GoC unable to provide security Communities have created self-defence militias 50% of all IDPs have been displaced by road bandits

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Patterns of displacement

Until late 2007, IDPs fled their villages to hide in nearby fields or forests without access to basic services

IDPs are now fleeing to larger towns where they hope to find security, and where they depend on help from host communities

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CONGO

DEMOCRAT IC REPUBLICOF THE CONGO

CAMERO ONSUDAN

CHAD

OUAKA

OUHAM

NANA-MAMBÉRÉ

MAMBÉRÉ-KADÉÏ

KÉMO

MBOMOU

HAUT-MBOMOU

LOBAYE

HAUTE-KOTTO

BAMINGUI-BANGORAN

VAKAGA

OMBELLA M'POKO

Yokadouma

Batouri

Garoua-Boulai

Ngaoundere

Tchollire

Kaele

MarouaMokolo

Mora

MoundouDoba

KoumraSarh

Pala Lai Kyabe

Haraze

Bongor

Am Timan

BumbaBudjala Aketi IsirioButa

Bozene

Gemena Titule

LibengeBondo

Mobayi

Obo

Bangassou

Bimbo

Mobaye

Birao

Bria

Ndélé

Bambari

Kaga-Bandoro

Sibut

BossangoaBozoum

Bouar

Nola

Berbérati

Mbaïki

BANGUI

0 200100 km

Kabo

BatangafoKambakota

Bangui

Areas visited

Bocaranga

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Specific protection problems

Trauma from extreme levels of violence Unmet basic needs Economic exploitation Ethnic discrimination Recruitment into armed groups

Displaced children have suffered from:

Kabo

Kambakota

Bocaranga

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National response

Security and social services almost inexistent in north Government actively supports self-defence militias IDP-mandated agencies under-funded and under-

staffed No government assistance to IDPs, including children Allowed international community to access IDPs No national law or policy to protect IDPs

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Lack of legal framework

GoC has not implemented the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement

GoC has not enacted national legislation for protecting IDPs, including displaced children

GoC has not ratified the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the involvement of children in armed conflict

National Assembly has not reviewed or enacted the draft child protection law. Draft law does not include provisions for protecting displaced children

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International response

Cluster approach was activated in 2007 Surge of INGOs and humanitarian funding Lack of child-mandated organisations working in CAR Lack of specific focus on the needs of displaced

children Inability to respond to urgent needs of displaced

children in timely and efficient ways

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Developments in 2008

Fragile peace process underway (ceasefire agreements and amnesty law)

CAR on agenda of UN Peacebuilding Commission Surge in development and humanitarian funding in 2008

(CAP is 91% funded) SRSG on children and armed conflict visited CAR in May UNICEF established country task force for MRM UN SC Working Group on children in armed conflict will

review situation in CAR in 2009

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Recommendations

To the government of CAR Restore security and social services Create a legal framework to protect IDPs

To the international community Appoint a Humanitarian Coordinator Preposition and deliver assistance in a timely manner Encourage all parties to conflict to uphold ceasefire

agreements and continue negotiations over amnesty law