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The situation in the Central African Republic is deteriorating day by day. Fighting in the streets, people are forced to flee their homes and villages are being looted. The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is declaring the situation a Corporate Emergency and strengthens the effort in the country – both in terms of staff and resources.
The Central African Republic (CAR) has for decades been plagued by recurring armed conflicts. The humanitarian situation since the latest coup in March, 2013 has deteriorated seriously. The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), who has been present in the country since 2007, declares the situation so devastating that it is called for a corporate emergency and gives the operation in the country high priority. Among other things DRC is sending staff from the Division for Emergency, Safety and Supply to strengthen the effort in the country.
”More than 500.000 persons have been forced to flee their homes, more than two millions are in acute need of assistance, thousands of people have been attacked, raped and executed – and various places children are been recruited to take part in the attacks. The Danish Refugee Council is acting before the situation gets completely out of control,” says Rasmus Stuhr Jakobsen, head of Division for Emergency, Safety and Supply, DRC.
The ongoing crisis started more than a year ago but culminated with the coup in March. The violence between Christians and Muslims has been on the rise over the last months. Additionally there has been an increase in armed groups exploiting the chaos following the non-functioning army and police force.
“We are declaring situation so serious that we are calling for a corporate emergency and we have to act on the immense humanitarian needs. Therefore we are strengthening our presence in the country – both in terms of staff and resources. It is pivotal that we are up scaling our efforts in this situation, so hopefully we can avoid an even bigger humanitarian disaster,“ Rasmus Stuhr Jakobsen says.
The Danish Refugee Council’s Division for Emergency, Safety and Supply is acting by sending extra staff to CAR and additional emergency relief to the crisis torn country. It will include food, kitchen supply, hygiene equipment and blankets.
