UNITED NATIONS SEEKS $1.3 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Press Release
IHA/601
UNITED NATIONS SEEKS $1.3 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
19960619 NEW YORK, 19 June (Department of Humanitarian Affairs) -- The United Nations today requested the international community to provide $1.3 million for emergency assistance to the Central African Republic in response to humanitarian needs arising from armed conflict last month. The request is contained in an inter-agency situation report on that country issued today.The conflict among elements of the Central African Republic army seriously damaged the already fragile infrastructure, creating considerable humanitarian assistance needs in that country. While immediate food needs will be met by the World Food Programme (WFP) through existing stocks, the proposed assistance programme, which is to cover a three-month period ending mid-September aimed at meeting on a priority basis the health and nutritional rehabilitation requirements of vulnerable groups in Bangui, the capital. It will also address gaps in the areas of education, agriculture and animal health which, if left unattended, could seriously affect key socio-economic sectors and create an additional destabilizing factor.
The United Nations agencies in Central African Republic -- the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), WFP and World Health Organization (WHO) -- have, in collaboration with other international and national relief organizations -- Médecins sans frontières, Belgium, and Central African Red Cross -- carried out assessments of the immediate crisis-related humanitarian requirements. The details of these requirements are spelled out in the "Expanded Situation Report" on that country sent to Member States and concerned relief organizations today.
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NOTE:For further information, contact Anthony Raby at the Department of Humanitarian Affairs in New York, tel: (212) 963-1375, fax: 212-963-1388 and e-mail: DHANY1@UN.ORG.