How Concern is improving hygiene and water access in Central African Republic
In Central African Republic, we are continuing our work to bring clean, safe water to communities who need it the most.
Read our 2023 annual report
Concern's objectives, activities and achievements in 2023 can be found in our new annual report.
Read the report
Knowledge Hub
Evidence-based learning, evaluations, research, guidance, manuals, tools and programme updates.
The Brief: Central African Republic
The Central African Republic has been suffering from widespread violence since late 2012. Photo: Concern Worldwide.
The Central African Republic has been suffering from widespread violence since late 2012. In a time of global turmoil, the terrible human consequences of this conflict barely make the news.
Ahead of a presidential election in August, we take stock of the trauma armed violence is exacting on the country.
At least 5,000 people have been killed as a consequence of war in the Central African Republic since December 2013. Violence has not been contained to those fighting in opposing militias.
Civilians have been targeted, including women, children and the elderly. Homes have been deliberately destroyed. The security vacuum has resulted in the displacement of one million people (almost a quarter of the country’s population), sharply increasing instances of hunger, poor health and violence and sexual crime on the population.
In February 2015, over 200 attacks on humanitarian workers were reported, impeding relief to the most vulnerable Central Africans affected by war
Rebuilding communities
Concern Worldwide, alongside its partners, has been working to help the people of the capital city Bangui rehabilitate their lives in the midst of this violence.
Cash transfer programmes establish jobs for men and women, like the rebuilding of roads and cleaning of drains and canals. This has a doubly positive affect: individuals can earn incomes and neighbourhoods can be restored at the same time.
Those who cannot work, whether through sickness, old age or disability, are also propped up by the programme. Working with a microfinance institute in the capital, almost 35,000 people have benefited from this programme so far.
Central African Republic map, courtesy of the United Nations.
Water protection
In the Yaloke district, water sources have been targeted by militias, drastically impacting the health and livelihoods of locals.
Water pumps were destroyed and dead bodies thrown into open wells.
Concern has intervened to rehabilitate these sources and to train local technicians to maintain and repair pumps. This effort means that 16,400 people have access to clean water near their homes again.
Food and health
Over 7,000 children are suffering from malnourishment in the Ombella M’Poko province, many of which are acute cases. Concern is aiming to train new health staff to combat the effects of hunger in the region.
We hope to provide hygiene and nutrition training to 7,000 mothers and mothers-to-be to support the health and development of their children, as well as their personal well-being.
Elections
In the wake of human rights abuses committed by all parties in the conflict, the UN is continuing to urge disarmament and a return to order.
Parliamentary and presidential ballots are scheduled for July and August.
After three years of devastation, it is hoped that these elections will represent a light at the end of the tunnel for the people of the Central African Republic.
In depth
- US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, says disarmament is a “huge priority”. [Al Jazeera]
- Australian photographer Sam Phelps’ Return To Boda project documents the rapid disintegration into conflict the country has experienced in the past three years. [New York Times]
- Almost 1.5 million children are out of school, vulnerable to militia recruitment, violence and rape. [Huffington Post]
- Continuing war is boosting the prevalence of HIV. [Bloomberg]
- Only constitutional elections can create stability. [The Guardian]
