UNICEF assists Bangui children's centre

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has donated a bus, computers and office stationery worth 12 million francs CFA (US $24,000) to a children's centre in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), state-owned Radio Centrafrique reported on Friday. Presenting the donation to Social Affairs Minister Lea Doumta, UNICEF representative Joseph Foumbi said the aid was to help the centre recover from the looting that followed the 15 March 2003 coup by Francois Bozize. The Centre de la Mere et de l'Enfant was among the public facilities that were extensively looted following the coup. Founded in 1972, the centre is run by the Ministry of Social Affairs and caters for children aged up to four years, including orphans, those from vulnerable families, abandoned children and those whose mothers have chronic disease that prevent them from caring for their children. The centre has 40 children but the number often varies as new arrivals are registered while others leave for foster families. Foumbi said UNICEF's 2002-2006 programme of action focused on children and their mothers' survival, basic education, promotion of child and women's rights and HIV/AIDS.