UN FLASH APPEAL FOR THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

UNCLAS ROME 003591 SIPDIS AIDAC FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME STATE FOR PRM/P AND IO/EDA INFO USAID FOR A/AID, DCHA/FFP LANDIS INFO USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS/TILSWORTH/GAINOR INFO GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH/USAID INFO BRUSSELS FOR USAID PLERNER AND PRM REP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EAGR WFP UN SUBJECT: UN FLASH APPEAL FOR THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. AS PER RECENT UNITED NATIONS (UN) STATEMENTS, THE SITUATION IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC HAS STABILIZED SUFFICIENTLY TO ENABLE THE DELIVERY OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. THE U.S. DOLLARS (USD) 9.1 MILLION UN FLASH APPEAL, AVAILABLE ON RELIEFWEB (THE WEB SITE OF THE UN'S OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS), INCLUDES BOTH AN AGRICULTURAL LIVELIHOODS COMPONENT AND A REQUEST FOR FOOD AID. END SUMMARY. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. SINCE MARCH 2003, THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY PANORAMA IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CAR) HAS CHANGED WITH THE OVERTHROW OF THE FORMER REGIME. AS PER THE UN, MEASURES TAKEN BY THE NEW POLITICAL AUTHORITIES HAVE NOW CREATED ACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS TO PERMIT DELIVERY OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. ¶3. MEANWHILE A SERIOUS HUMANITARIAN SITUATION HAS ARISEN. BECAUSE OF FREQUENT LOOTING, THE POPULATION IS DEPRIVED OF BASIC COMMODITIES AND BASIC SERVICES INCLUDING HEALTH INSTITUTIONS, PHARMACEUTICAL OUTLETS, SCHOOLS, AND SHOPS. ¶4. CONTINUED FIGHTING BY REBEL AND LOYALIST FORCES IN OUTLYING AREAS EXPOSE VILLAGERS TO PHYSICAL INSECURITY AND THE RISK OF DISEASE, MALNUTRITION, AND EPIDEMICS. ¶5. THE AIM OF THE FLASH APPEAL IS TO OBTAIN RESOURCES TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF 2.2 MILLION PEOPLE, INCLUDING 400,000 CHILDREN. THE APPEAL ALSO SEEKS TO PROVIDE UN SUPPORT FOR BASIC SERVICES. THE UN'S FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION (FAO) WOULD PROVIDE SEEDS AND OTHER VITAL AGRICULTURAL INPUTS TO FARMERS. APART FROM FOOD SECURITY-RELATED ACTIVITIES SPANNING 12 MONTHS, MOST OF THE OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE APPEAL COVER A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS. ¶6. FINANCIAL NEEDS ARE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT U.S. DOLLARS (USD) 9.1 MILLION, INCLUDING USD 3 MILLION FOR HEALTH CARE, USD 4.8 MILLION FOR FOOD SECURITY (ABOUT USD 2.6 MILLION FOR FAO AND USD 2.2 MILLION FOR THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME),USD 220 THOUSAND FOR HUMAN PROTECTION, AND USD 970 THOUSAND FOR COORDINATION REINFORCEMENT AND FOLLOW-UP ASSESSMENT. ¶7. IN NOVEMBER 2003 THE UN WILL PREPARE AN INTER-AGENCY CONSOLIDATED APPEAL THAT PROVIDES FORECASTED REQUIREMENTS FOR 2004. HALL NNNN 2003ROME03591 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED