Central African Republic cannot wait six months for peacekeepers

Archbishop Nzapalainga

On Friday, CAFOD warned that the people of Central African Republic (CAR) cannot afford the proposed six-month wait for 12,000 UN peacekeepers to arrive in the country, and that the world must act immediately to stop a dire situation deteriorating further.

The UN Security Council has agreed to send the peacekeeping force to CAR, but not for almost six months, despite the escalating cycle of retaliatory violence and lawlessness in the country, which has left thousands of people dead, more than one million in need of urgent food, water and basic services, and over 600,000 people homeless.

Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga of Bangui – President of CAFOD partner Caritas Central African Republic and a member of the inter-faith platform – gave this response: “Ours is a crisis that has daily echoes of Rwanda 20 years ago as we receive reports of people killed with knives and machetes in our streets simply because of the group to which they belong.

“The decision to establish a robust UN peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic is a welcome step towards peace in our country, but the world needs to act immediately. We cannot wait six months for help to come.

“Security is our primary concern, because aid agencies first need security to be able to work and address the dire humanitarian needs. And secondly, people won’t go back to farming their fields if they do not feel safe. “The main difference between Rwanda in 1994 and today in Central African Republic is that we still have time to act to help save lives. When I speak to ordinary people, I hear voices of fear, desperately asking for the world’s help. They cannot be told to wait.”

CAFOD’s Catherine Mahony said: “While the UN sets up its peacekeeping operation, 625,000 people are currently sheltering in temporary displacement camps, mosques, churches and Bangui’s international airport. They face appalling conditions. “Most are too afraid to return home due to the continuing insecurity and the lack of international presence or police patrols in their area. “Basic services like health and education have collapsed and over one million people face food shortages over the coming months.”

CAR has been in crisis since a coalition of rebel groups known as Seleka seized power in March 2013. In December, militias known as ‘Anti-balaka’ launched a series of counterattacks, often targeting the minority Muslim population.

CAFOD is supporting Caritas Central African Republic in providing humanitarian aid through its sister agency Catholic Relief Services, as well as supporting the peace and reconciliation work of the inter-faith platform headed by senior Christian and Muslim leaders, who have travelled across the country to promote peace between communities.

Earlier this year members of the inter-faith platform came to London to draw global attention to the deteriorating security situation, calling on the international community to secure a significant UN peacekeeping presence.

Source: CAFOD/Caritas