Finland gives humanitarian assistance for the protection of children in the Central African Republic

Press Release 255/2013
5 December 2013

By decision of Minister for International Development 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. 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,” Development Minister Haavisto states.

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,” Minister Haavisto says.

UNICEF will use the sum granted by Finland for its emergency relief operation, which includes for instance nutrition assistance to children under 5 years of age, water and hygiene services, a children’s vaccination campaign, primary health care, psychosocial support and education.

Additional information: Anna Gebremedhin, Head of the Unit for Humanitarian Assistance, mobile tel. +358 40 583 0149, Milma Kettunen, Press Attaché to Minister Haavisto, mobile tel. +358 40 522 9869