Situation in numbers
2.4 MILLION CHILDREN AFFECTED IN CAR OUT OF 4.8 MILLION
891,434 TOTAL INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) AND REFUGEES IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES
436,300 PEOPLE INTERNALLY DISPLACED IN CAR
455,134 TOTAL REFUGEES FROM CAR IN CAMEROON, CHAD, DRC AND CONGO
215,735 NEW CAR REFUGEES SINCE DECEMBER 2013
The crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) continues, and has resulted in an outflow of over 455,000 refugees into neighboring Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Republic of Congo. Nearly half of these refugees (47 per cent) have crossed the borders since December of 2013.
Children in particular are bearing the brunt of the crisis. They are directly targeted by the violence – displaced, separated from their families, abducted, killed and raped, and in too many cases, forcibly recruited to take part in the atrocities. This is a children’s rights crisis affecting the sub-region on a magnitude that has rarely been seen before.
Cross border prevention of and response to family separation is critical, and includes identification, family tracing, reunification and care of unaccompanied and separated children. UNICEF and partners actively work on the identification and release of children associated with armed groups (CAAG). UNICEF is further investing in education as an entry point to peace building and reconciliation, works to maintain reconstruction efforts of health systems, and advocate that basic social services are delivered in a conflict-sensitive way across the country to advance peace and reconciliation.