Humanitarian Crisis in the Central African Republic
William Daniels
Panos Pictures
Winner of the 2014 ICRC Humanitarian Visa d’or Award – International Committee of the Red Cross
The Central African Republic has been plunged into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. After a year of terror led by the mainly Muslim rebel Seleka group, anti-Balaka militia wreaked revenge on the Muslims in the west of the country who fled or were killed. Entire districts were under siege; even women and children were victims of grenade attacks. There was little response from the international community. Soldiers with the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA) and French troops struggled to stop the massacres and population movements. Nearly one million (one fourth of the population) fled, becoming displaced persons, needing food and medical care.
For a long time the crisis in the Central African Republic was almost forgotten, having triggered little interest or support from the international community. The Central African Republic has been unstable and vulnerable for forty years now. According to the World Health Organization, life expectancy is the second lowest in the world, at only 48 years. The country has no proper healthcare system and relies on the commitment of international NGOs to provide medical care. Before the current crisis, the rate of malnutrition was 38%. Everyone in the country today suffers from malaria, with at least one attack a year.
Preview
I have made a number of trips to the Central African Republic since December 2013, and have covered the humanitarian disaster, seeing camps for displaced persons in the capital city, such as M’Poko, a staggering sight at the airport where in the space of just a few days there was an influx of 100 000 people, mostly Christians and animists, fleeing the fighting between Seleka and anti-Balaka forces.
On a number of occasions I have traveled to the remaining Muslim communities, now isolated enclaves at PK-5, Begoua and Boda. Each site had similar scenes, with residents and others who had found shelter there ending up under siege, afraid to leave for fear of being killed, by gunshot, their throat cut, or being dismembered. Anti-Balaka fighters around the enclave throw grenades randomly, hitting women and children. Hygiene and health are appalling, and there is only minimal access to medical care.
When I returned to Boda in April this year, the situation was even more critical. It was difficult to get food supplies to the 10 000 people living isolated in the enclave there, as anti-Balaka harassment tactics often block the road to Bangui. Many children are suffering from severe malnutrition, mainly Peul children as the Peul ethnic group is subjected to discrimination within the enclave. Some medical care was provided by a part-time doctor and two nurses, but they are overwhelmed by the demand. The local hospital responded to pressure from the French forces, and recently opened again, but as it is outside the enclave, it was still too dangerous for Muslims to go there.
*William Daniels *
I wish to thank Time Magazine which has supported this work from the outset; and also L’Express and the Al-Jazeera Website for occasional publications.
