To: H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha, Chairperson-The African Union
Request fo the African Union to Intercede in Central African Republic
The Central African Republic (CAR) - already one of the poorest countries in the world - is facing an unprecedented campaign of killings, rampant looting, countless razing villages and the worst humanitarian and human rights crisis of this country, with the latest rise of violence since Seleka rebels took control of the country in March 2013.
In the wake of the sectarian and communal violence, about 370 000 people have fled their homes during the month of December seeking refuge in churches and at the airport of Bangui.
According to the latest assessment, some 2.2 million Central Africans - nearly 48 per cent of the population - need humanitarian assistance in the country and more than 233,000 people have sought refuge in neighboring countries. At the same time, thousands of people are displaced within CAR itself to flee the conflict and human rights violations by both the Seleka rebel group, which seized power in CAR in March 2013, and the self-defense militias known as “Anti-Balaka” or anti-machetes.
In some remote areas nobody can exactly describe the magnitude of the humanitarian disaster. People fled their village to live in the forest. Some have seen their family members being decimated.
Humanitarian response in CAR has been wholly inadequate and insufficient compared to the scale of the crisis and the extreme living conditions of thousands of people.
UN Humanitarian agencies have failed to deliver an adequate and sustainable assistance to those in need in CAR due to overestimated security threats and bureaucratic impediments as criticized by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in its open letter released early in December. At the same time, a number of other humanitarian organizations operating in Africa are turning a blind eye on the crisis in CAR while focusing their efforts in less risky countries.
Meanwhile, suffering is mounting and the humanitarian crisis is widespread across the country. The situation of the people of CAR is dire and their need for vital assistance is overwhelming. It is becoming increasingly important to channel aid and assistance to those suffering from infections, malaria, HIV/AIDS or desperately in need for food, water, sanitation and shelter, regardless of ethnicity, faith or political affiliation.
This petition aims is to raise awareness of the humanitarian tragedy that is unfolding in CAR and to encourage the African Union to step forward and send a delegation to CAR to assist in resolving the conflict.
The people of CAR need you. Thank you for supporting this initiative. Take action, sign the plea and share it around you.
In the wake of the sectarian and communal violence, about 370 000 people have fled their homes during the month of December seeking refuge in churches and at the airport of Bangui.
According to the latest assessment, some 2.2 million Central Africans - nearly 48 per cent of the population - need humanitarian assistance in the country and more than 233,000 people have sought refuge in neighboring countries. At the same time, thousands of people are displaced within CAR itself to flee the conflict and human rights violations by both the Seleka rebel group, which seized power in CAR in March 2013, and the self-defense militias known as “Anti-Balaka” or anti-machetes.
In some remote areas nobody can exactly describe the magnitude of the humanitarian disaster. People fled their village to live in the forest. Some have seen their family members being decimated.
Humanitarian response in CAR has been wholly inadequate and insufficient compared to the scale of the crisis and the extreme living conditions of thousands of people.
UN Humanitarian agencies have failed to deliver an adequate and sustainable assistance to those in need in CAR due to overestimated security threats and bureaucratic impediments as criticized by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in its open letter released early in December. At the same time, a number of other humanitarian organizations operating in Africa are turning a blind eye on the crisis in CAR while focusing their efforts in less risky countries.
Meanwhile, suffering is mounting and the humanitarian crisis is widespread across the country. The situation of the people of CAR is dire and their need for vital assistance is overwhelming. It is becoming increasingly important to channel aid and assistance to those suffering from infections, malaria, HIV/AIDS or desperately in need for food, water, sanitation and shelter, regardless of ethnicity, faith or political affiliation.
This petition aims is to raise awareness of the humanitarian tragedy that is unfolding in CAR and to encourage the African Union to step forward and send a delegation to CAR to assist in resolving the conflict.
The people of CAR need you. Thank you for supporting this initiative. Take action, sign the plea and share it around you.
Why is this important?
To have The Africa Union to step up to resolve the situation in CAR.