Government presents US $134 million emergency programme to UN mission

The Central African Republic (CAR) government has submitted to a visiting UN delegation the outline of a three-year emergency reconstruction programme worth 80 billion francs CFA (US $133.86 million) it wants funded. Of this, 13 billion francs CFA (US $21.6 million) is earmarked for social and humanitarian operations; 10 billion francs ($16 million) for elections; 3.5 billion francs ($5.8 million) to restore security nationwide; 36 billion francs ($60 million) to stabilise public finances; 12 billion francs ($20 million) to re-launch the economy; and five billion francs ($8.3 million) to rehabilitate public buildings. Under its reconstruction programme, the government plans to restructure the armed forces, dismantle militias, demobilise 5,700 former combatants and reintroduce them back into civilian life, and recover some 20,000 small arms circulating in the country. So far, a regional African force in the country has seized 1,500 guns. During a six-month rebellion that ended with the overthrow of President Ange-Felix Patasse on 15 March, scores of homes, public buildings and hospitals were looted or destroyed. In addition, the government estimates at least 1,000 people died, 3,000 were wounded and 50,000 were displaced. Another 50,000 fled to other countries. UN Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs Tuliameni Kalomoh headed the delegation that ended its two-day visit on Sunday. Members of the team were drawn from UN departments and agencies responsible for political affairs, peacekeeping, humanitarian operations, development, refugees, HIV/AIDS, and officials from the 11-member Economic Community of Central African States. The mission arrived in Bangui, the CAR capital, after a tour in other central African states. It met with UN agencies, civil society, diplomats, the regional peacekeeping force, political parties and international NGOs. Its mission was to assess the country's political, economic, security and humanitarian and development needs. It flew to Libreville, Gabon, on Sunday.