UNICEF scales up response in Central African Republic

January 30, 2013: The United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF, is scaling up operations in the Central African Republic - CAR, to help thousands of children who have been affected by the recent violence in the country and in urgent need of assistance. “From what we have seen in some of the hardest hit areas, children are living in extremely precarious conditions,” said the UNICEF Representative for the CAR, Souleymane Diabaté. “It is critical we reach them now with immediate assistance, but we urge all parties involved to make long-term welfare an urgent priority, and a critical part of any political settlement,” he stated in a news release. According to UNICEF, the recent conflict has affected nearly 1.8 million people and left 800,000 in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. UNICEF will be working with Government ministries and other partners to prevent and respond to children at risk of trafficking and armed recruitment, prevent child mortality through medical support, improve access to water and sanitation, provide support to displaced families, and ensure children regain access to education in safe schools. The agency said $2.1 million is needed immediately to support the emergency response, and an estimated $11.5 million is needed to sustain emergency life-saving assistance for nearly 1.8 million people through 2013.