Displaced children in CAR November 2008

1. Displaced children in CAR November 2008

2. Numbers at a glance

3. Disproportionate effect on children • 50% of all IDPs in CAR are children • 61% of IDPs in Ouham and Ouham-Pendé are children

4. Causes of displacement • Conflict and displacement ongoing since 2005 • Until 2007, causes of displacement mainly clashes between government forces and rebel groups • New causes of displacement are attacks by road bandits known as coupeurs de route • GoC unable to provide security • Communities have created self-defence militias • 50% of all IDPs have been displaced by road bandits

5. Patterns of displacement • Until late 2007, IDPs fled their villages to hide in nearby fields or forests without access to basic services • IDPs are now fleeing to larger towns where they hope to find security, and where they depend on help from host communities

6. Areas visited  Kabo  Batangafo Kambakota Bocaranga Bangui 

7. Specific protection problems Displaced children have suffered from: • Trauma from extreme levels of violence • Unmet basic needs • Economic exploitation • Ethnic discrimination • Recruitment into armed groups

8. Kabo

9. Kambakota

10. Bocaranga

11. National response • Security and social services almost inexistent in north • Government actively supports self-defence militias • IDP-mandated agencies under-funded and under-staffed • No government assistance to IDPs, including children • Allowed international community to access IDPs • No national law or policy to protect IDPs

12. Lack of legal framework • GoC has not implemented the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement • GoC has not enacted national legislation for protecting IDPs, including displaced children • GoC has not ratified the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the involvement of children in armed conflict • National Assembly has not reviewed or enacted the draft child protection law. Draft law does not include provisions for protecting displaced children

13. International response • Cluster approach was activated in 2007 • Surge of INGOs and humanitarian funding • Lack of child-mandated organisations working in CAR • Lack of specific focus on the needs of displaced children • Inability to respond to urgent needs of displaced children in timely and efficient ways

14. Developments in 2008 • Fragile peace process underway (ceasefire agreements and amnesty law) • CAR on agenda of UN Peacebuilding Commission • Surge in development and humanitarian funding in 2008 (CAP is 91% funded) • SRSG on children and armed conflict visited CAR in May • UNICEF established country task force for MRM • UN SC Working Group on children in armed conflict will review situation in CAR in 2009

15. Recommendations To the government of CAR • Restore security and social services • Create a legal framework to protect IDPs To the international community • Appoint a Humanitarian Coordinator • Preposition and deliver assistance in a timely manner • Encourage all parties to conflict to uphold ceasefire agreements and continue negotiations over amnesty law