More support needed for war-affected communities UN says

Substantial support to local community services would considerably relieve war-affected people in the Central African Republic, a senior UN humanitarian official said on Tuesday. "The CAR needs institutional support for health, educational and agricultural sectors," Ramiro Lopes Da Silva, the special humanitarian adviser of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told IRIN in Bangui, the CAR capital. "The mission will try to shake the conscience of the international community over humanitarian hardships in the CAR," he said. Da Silva, who arrived in Bangui on Sunday, is on a two-week humanitarian assessment mission of the country. Following a six-month rebellion that ended on 15 March 2003 with the overthrow of President Ange-Felix Patasse, basic infrastructures such as schools and health facilities were looted or vandalised. Farmers lost two planting seasons either because they were in hiding or because there were no seeds to sow. Despite that Da Silva said there was no famine, although the risk of malnutrition was high. He said despite a US $16-million UN consolidated appeal made in November 2003, so far only Sweden had contributed, providing $700,000 in January. At present hundreds of schools in four northwest provinces are receiving food channeled though the UN World Food Programme and medical aid paid for by the EC Humanitarian Office. In January, the International Committee of Red Cross undertook to repair water supply systems in parts of the country.