A young girl smiling in Central African Republic.
Where we work

Central African Republic

The CAR has struggled with violence and political instability for decades, leaving children and their families in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

Ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) has left over a million children in danger. 

Years of armed conflict and ongoing political insecurity has had considerable consequences for Central Africans, with children bearing the brunt. The country’s crisis has been further intensified by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising prices of basic items plunging children and their families into food insecurity. 

The presence of armed groups and mass forced displacement of families due to increased violence and insecurity continues to place vulnerable children at risk of separation from their families, violence, sexual abuse, or recruitment into armed groups. Currently, 1.4 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection in the CAR. 

Increasing attacks on humanitarian workers, including kidnappings, also make the CAR one of the most dangerous contexts to deliver humanitarian aid. Despite the challenges, War Child is committed to delivering life-saving interventions to support the most vulnerable children and their families.   

Scale of the challenge

  • 1.3 M

    Children in need of humanitarian assistance.

  • 488 K

    People, half of whom are children, internally displaced due to increased violence and insecurity.

  • 40 %

    Children under the age of five suffering from chronic malnutrition.

Our work in the Central African Republic 

Since 2014, War Child has been working in the CAR to provide life-saving services to conflict-affected children and their families to enhance their livelihoods, access to protection and education. This has also included facilitating the release of more than 15,500 children from armed forces and groups of whom only 30% have been reintegrated into their communities. Currently, War Child’s projects are in Ouham, Ouham-Pendé, and Vakaga and focus on reaching the most vulnerable children including those who have been separated from their families, recruited by armed groups, experienced sexual violence or are working to provide for their families doing the worst forms of child labour. 

 

In 2022, War Child’s programmes include: 

  • Supporting the reintegration, and strengthening the resilience, of children affected by armed conflict and sexual violence. 
  • Running child-friendly spaces and providing mental health support to children impacted by conflict and sexual violence. 
  • Promoting peace building through youth-led advocacy and community participation. 
  • Identifying and working with individual vulnerable children facing specific risks to their safety and well-being as well as training and mobilising community-based child protection committees to enhance community understanding of child protection risks and their ability to respond to these long after War Child projects have ended. 
  • Creating school gardens enabling schools to produce their own food to support school meals and quality learning.

 

Illustration of a football and a goal.
Frederique, like many thousands of children across the CAR, has experienced appalling violence as a result of the ongoing conflict. Now attending one of War Child’s child-friendly spaces he can be a child again. Credit: Arete.
I am happy I can go to the War Child child-friendly space and participate in the activities. When I am there, I can forget my troubles for a while. When I see other kids playing football, I can’t sit still, I have to join them. I just love playing football, it’s what makes me happiest.
Frederique, Central African Republic.

We never give up on children like Frederique.

Children just like Frederique and their families in the CAR are in desperate need of support. With your help, we can continue to be there for them.

Please, donate today.

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