Address: B.P. 1518, Bangui, Central African Republic
Telephone: +236 75 25 70 09 / +236 72 39 02 90
Email: caritas.centrafrique@gmail.com/ luk.delft@gmail.com
Caritas Central African Republic was established in 1960 and called Secours Catholique Centrafricain. It was named Caritas Central African Republic in 1991 with the merger of Secours Catholique Centrafricain and Animation Rurale (agricultural extension department) on 31 August that year.
Caritas Central African Republic operates in a country where insecurity is a constant factor and poverty widespread. Three decades of insecurity ended in 1993, but there was further unrest in 2002 and 2003, and more recently in 2012 with the seizure of power by Seleka's coalition, which plunged the country into a state of insecurity and fear and continues to hamper its social and economic development. The people of the Central African Republic are among the poorest in the world.
Given the disasters and internal strife that affect the country, support for people whose fundamental rights have been abused plays a central role in the activities of Caritas. Protection of children from forced recruitment by armed groups, rehabilitation and advocacy regarding sexual violence against women and vulnerable persons, as well as support and assistance to internally displaced people, keep Caritas teams constantly busy. Caritas operates via a Peace and Reconciliation Commission with a view to helping parties engaged in conflict to seek solutions for lasting peace.
Caritas seeks to promote a better world in which a culture of loving one's neighbour, solidarity, social justice and development of the human person prevails. Its mission is to continue the work of Jesus Christ through evangelisation based on charity: striving for human promotion in order to fight poverty and thus ensure the well-being of people.
In its actions Caritas Central African Republic respects the autonomy of each authority to conduct its own activities. For Caritas, emergency relief activities are part of integral human development, the achievement of which depends on partnership and cooperation, and Caritas Central African Republic collaborates with all partners who respect its values and principles.
Thanks to its presence in dioceses and over 120 parishes, Caritas manages to assess, support and distribute aid and assistance in the most remote parts of the country.
Caritas works in partnership with the following organisations:
Many members of the Caritas confederation including CRS (Caritas USA), Cordaid (Caritas Netherlands), Caritas Italy, Caritas South Korea and Caritas Spain, as well as CCFD (Catholic Committee Against Hunger and for Development), the Italian Bishops' Conference, the European Union and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
International and diplomatic organisations: UNDP, FNUAP, OCHA, UNHCR, WFP, FAO, WHO, World Bank, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, a delegation from the European Union, and the Cultural Affairs offices of the Embassies of France and the United States.
International NGOs: IPHD (International Partnership for Human Development), the International Red Cross, Française solidarité and MSF.
Updates from Central African Republic
central-african-republic
Church mourning murder in the Central African Republic
The Catholic Church in the Central African Republic is in mourning after the murder of priest, Firmin Gbagoua, in Bambari on Friday.
Failing to protect lives in Central African Republic
Half the people of the Central African Republic needs humanitarian aid due to a collapse of the rule of law and a failure by United Nations peacekeepers to establish security.
Peace and security for the development of Central African Republic
Eighty percent of the population in Central African Republic depends on humanitarian aid. The key thing that the country needs the most is security.
Religious leaders in CAR awarded for peace efforts
Christian and Muslim religious leaders from the Central African Republic received an international award for their role in preventing sectarian war in their country.
Questions and Answers with CAR's Archbisop Dieudonné Nzapalainga
The Caritas-backed Interfaith Peace Platform aimed at ending conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) is the recipient of the 2015 Sergio Vieira de Mello Prize. Archbishop of Bangui, Mgr. Dieudonné Nzapalainga, President of Caritas Central Africa, will be among the recipients.
Caritas leader in Central Africa selected for humanitarian award
The president of Caritas Central African Republic is one of three people to be chosen for an international award for their work in inter-religious dialogue.
Gardens of safety in Chad from Africa's wars
Caritas is giving families orginally from Chad and who have now returned agricultural training, tools and seeds so that they can become self sufficient.
Central African refugees will suffer unless aid increases
Caritas warns that refugees from the Central African Republic will suffer if funding by the international community isn't increased this year.
Chaos grips Central African Republic
Bishop of Bossangoa says rival fighters are terrorizing the Central African Republic, the government has lost control and the international community isn't doing enough. He is calling for urgent action.