- In Brief
Central African Republic
- Ongoing violence and poverty has led to a decimation of infrastructure in Central African Republic. Photo: The IRC
Long-simmering tensions in Central African Republic (CAR) erupted into open rebellion in 2006. Despite a peace agreement between government and rebel groups, sporadic fighting continues, in some cases with renewed intensity.
Ongoing violence and chronic poverty has led to a complete decimation of social and economic infrastructure across the northern regions of the country while looting, killing, rape, kidnapping and the burning of entire villages has led 300,000 people to flee their homes.
The International Rescue Committee first provided emergency response services in CAR in December 2006 before quickly broadening programming in February 2007 to include health, water and sanitation, education, women's rights and protection.
Our health work initially concentrated on restarting health services in the northern district of Nana Gribizi where the IRC's support helped reduce hospital mortality from 9.2 per cent in 2006 to 2.6 per cent in 2007. The IRC is the only organisation working in full partnership with the Ministry of Health, conducting extensive preventive care work and vaccination campaigns for women and children.
