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Fri, 06 Dec, 2013 05:14:30 AM FTimes Report, December 6  Residents of the city of Damara, 75 km north of Bangui, leave the region for Bangui on December 3, 2013. The Central African Republic needs foreign financial assistance as well as troops, its prime minister told AFP today as French forces deployed in a bid to halt spiralling violence. Speaking in Bangui before flying to Paris for a 40-nation France-Africa summit, Nicolas Tiangaye said more than just military help was needed to pull his country back from the brink. Photo - AFP / Lehtikuva. Finland has decided to provide humanitarian assistance for the protection of children in the Central African Republic.
Following a decision by the International Development Minister Pekka Haavisto, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted one million euros in humanitarian assistance to help the victims of the crisis in the Central African Republic, said a press release of the ministry for foreign affairs.
The assistance is provided through UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund.
"The situation in the Central African Republic is very serious. State structures in the country have collapsed, the violence between communities has escalated and the humanitarian situation is alarming," said the development minister.
The people, who have suffered from the long period of political instability and armed conflicts, need protection, food and health services.
Violence, arrests and executions as well as crime have increased, people's opportunities to earn their livelihood have weakened and the country's infrastructure is largely destroyed.
The latest figures indicate that as much as half of the population, or 2.3 million people, are in need of humanitarian assistance.
With the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, the UN has increased its appeal for aid from 129 to 195 million US dollars.
Of this sum, 44 per cent had been secured by the end of November, making the Central African Republic an underfunded target of international humanitarian assistance.
"In this situation, children are particularly vulnerable. Many schools have been closed for almost a year now, and reports tell of the widespread use of child soldiers. There is a real need for the work done by UNICEF," Haavisto said.
UNICEF will use the sum granted by Finland for its emergency relief operation.
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Finland Times
| Monday, 09 December, 2024 |
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