Central African Republic & Chad
Situation still fragile in Central African Republic

afrol News, 24 March - After the Central African coup d'etat last week, the security situation remains tense and the humanitarian situation worsens. The self-declared president, General Francois Bozize, meanwhile is achieving more troops from Chad.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain basic supplies due to the looting of the shops of Bangui, the Central African capital, according to the World Food Programme (WFP). Insecurity further had hampered traffic along the road from Bangui to Cameroon and prevented farmers from planting crops, leading to food shortages and increased prices of basic goods.

During the first day of the coup, WFP's warehouses in Bangui were overrun by hungry crowds. 1,800 tons of commodities were taken away, the agency reports from the Central African Republic. The looted foodstuff is equivalent to eight months worth of food aid to children in schools and health centres and represents two thirds of the yearly requirements for the country's health and education sectors.

The coup d'etat took place on 15 and 16 March. Around 1,000 rebels captured Bangui and General Bozize declared himself President. A curfew was imposed and administrative buildings and schools were closed. The UN introduced a high security level throughout the country and international non-essential staff was withdrawn, leaving two WFP international staff to implement emergency operations.

WFP provides relief and recovery assistance to around 170,000 beneficiaries including 15,000 internally displaced persons, 15,000 returnees, 10,000 people with HIV/AIDS and about 22,000 women and children in Mother Children Healthcare programmes. The humanitarian situation thus has deteriorated severely. The WFP today however received a donation of US$ 1 million to intensify its work in the Central African Republic.

While the security situation remains tense, General Bozize seems to be consolidating his control over Bangui. During the last days, he has been strengthened by 300 troops from the Chadian government, which is said to have supported his rebels throughout his campaigns.

The Chadian government and General Bozize have urged governments of the region to include these Chadian troops into the CEMAC peacekeeping force, whose 303 men were deployed to the country in late December 2002 to protect the ousted president Ange-Félix Patassé.

Leaders of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States (CEMAC) on Friday recognised General Bozize as president of the Central African Republic, and encouraged him to continue his plans to restore peace to his country, although condemning the coup that brought him to power.

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