In response to the dramatic humanitarian crisis under way in the Central African Republic, the Italian Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dispatched a cargo plane loaded with emergency aid items. The intervention aims to reduce the risk of the spread among the refugees of malaria and diseases associated poor hygienic condition.
The nongovernmental organisation INTERSOS will administer the aid in that African country, immediately reaching over 85,000 displaced persons living in desperate conditions in 26 camps entirely lacking in sanitary facilities.
The delivery includes plastic tarpaulins, water containers and water purifying systems, treated mosquito netting, healthcare kits and sanitation supplies valued overall at €100,000. The availability of drinkable water will be increased through the installation of cisterns.
The violent political crisis in the CAR, which further intensified in December 2013, has resulted in a crisis that today involves over 2.5 million people. More than half of the population, weakened by months of fighting and violence, is living in dramatic circumstances, and the endemic lack of food security afflicting 70% of the country’s population is being further aggravated as a result of the clashes. More than 900,000 persons have abandoned their homes to escape the violence, 512,000 of which have taken refuge in the urban area of Bangui alone.
The Italian Cooperation recently announced a contribution of 2 million euro on behalf of the people of the CAR, while a one-million-euro project for the defence of the child and education has already been placed in the hands of UNICEF.
