Army draws "security map" for humanitarian operations

Military officials in the Central African Republic (CAR) have presented the nation’s "security map" to the UN System security section in the country to facilitate humanitarian operations, Stan Nkwain,coordinator of the UN system in CAR, said on Friday. Speaking during the UN-NGO humanitarian coordination meeting, he said the entire north of the country was still insecure for any humanitarian operations. He said military authorities had only declared the following roads safe: Bangui, the capital, to Carnot (281 km to the west) via Mbaiki and Berberati; Bangui to Ippy (500 km to the northeast) via Sibut and Bambari; Bangui to Bouar (454 km northwest of Bangui); and from Bangui to Bossangoa (305 km to the north). The military provided its security map after unidentified armed men have stolen one vehicle each belonging to the Italian humanitarian organization, Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) and to the UN Children’s Fund. On 30 May, COOPI postponed its emergency medical programme in two northern provinces. The towns of Bangassou and Bria (742 km east and 597 east of Bangui) were declared insecured. Like other eastern towns, these two were cut off from Bangui during the October 2002-March 2003 rebellion that brought Francois Bozize to power on 15 March. However, Bozize has failed to restore security, especially in the war-ravaged north, where armed bands have terrorised the public. Despite the nomination of provincial governors and army commanders in May none of them has reported to his post so far, discouraging thousands of people from returning to their homes. The peacekeeping force of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States has announced that it would soon deploy to the provinces to neutralise armed groups. The force disarmed and cantoned 187 former Bozize’s rebels on Thursday. Most cases of armed robbery both in Bangui and in the provinces are blamed on them. Nkwain said humanitarian teams would this week conduct two security assessment missions to Bossangoa and Bambari before deciding on providing aid. He said the government had offered a reinforced military escort. Nkwain added some humanitarian materials and drugs would be distributed during those missions, which are scheduled to last two days. The military informed the UN Security section that troops had been sent to Bozoum (384 km north west of Bangui), Bossemptele (295 km northwest of Bangui) and Bossembele (157 km north west of Bangui) to ensure security. Since Bozize’s seizure of power, war-affected populations have not yet received any large-scale humanitarian aid due to insecurity. Only Medicos Sin Fronteras, which closed its emergency programmes on 31 May, has been able to provide drugs to some health facilities in the north.