Central African Republic - The US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) has confirmed a new contribution of USD 2 million for IOM’s Emergency Humanitarian Assistance to Populations Affected by the Conflict in the Central African Republic.

This 12-month project will promote immediate and durable return solutions through three targeted components: 1) provision of an adapted and individualized return support package for families wishing to move towards a durable return solution; 2) rehabilitation and stabilization of the communities affected by incremental return of internally displaced persons (IDPs); and 3) continued mapping and tracking of humanitarian gaps and identification of socio-economic dynamics through the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM). The latter element will underpin IOM’s position as co-lead of the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster in CAR.

Amid moderately but steadily declining IDP numbers in the country, humanitarian actors have agreed that supporting both immediate and durable return solutions in CAR remains a top priority. This contribution comes at a time when there are still 436,456 internally displaced persons in CAR, including 49,113 in 35 IDP sites in Bangui (as of 26 March 2015, according to OCHA). At the same time, 2.7 million people are estimated to require assistance across the country, out of a total population of 4.6 million, while there are 455,134 CAR refugees in neighboring countries of which 215,735 have fled the country since December 2013.

“This important contribution by OFDA comes at a critical time when thousands of families feel safe enough to return to their home communities and therefore need support to restart their lives,” said Torsten Haschenz, the IOM Chief of Mission in CAR. “With parliamentary and presidential elections planned for later this year, the importance of IDP returns goes beyond improving immediate living conditions as it also enhances the conditions for inclusive electoral participation in an effort to bring about a stable, constitutional government accepted by all citizens.”

Since establishing an operational presence in CAR for the first time in December 2013, IOM has become a key player in assisting IDPs and returnees, and in supporting the coordination of assistance across the country through the DTM. In an effort to promote medium-to longer-term stabilization, IOM has been expanding its direct interventions to revive conflict-ridden communities through cash-for-work, infrastructure rehabilitation and social cohesion activities.

Having previously provided USD 1 million to IOM CAR in 2014, the OFDA’s doubling of its contribution in 2015 underlines the trust by the US Government in IOM’s ability to adapt quickly to evolving assistance requirements across the country.

IOM will continue working closely with the US Embassy and other key donors in mobilizing resources for urgently required migration-related interventions, including the electoral participation of IDPs and CAR migrants abroad, border management and the socio-economic reintegration of former combatants.

For further information please contact Torsten Haschenz, IOM CAR, Tel: +236 7218 7639, Email:thaschenz@iom.int