Central African Republic

Programme for Sudanese refugees in Sam Ouandja: access to essential services and integration

• Funding: UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency)
• Global budget: €294,000
• Duration: 12 months (January – December 2010)

In compliance with our strategy in the CAR, and as a natural continuance of the past year’s programme, we are working to help Sudanese refugees adapt to their new environment.

Since July 2010, the intensification of security threats linked to the presence of LRA in the north-east of the CAR has led the HCR to relocate the refugees camp close to Bambari, in Pladama Ouaka village. This central region is both safer and more accessible for humanitarian actors. It also offers a higher number of more varied socio-economical opportunities to the refugees.

Towards sustainable access to drinking water for vulnerable populations

• Funding: UNICEF (United Nations Childrens Fund)
• Global budget: €75,000
• Duration: 6 months (June - November 2010)

This program aims to consolidate benefits of the previous program in which we built potable water sources in sufficient number and quality. By continuing the action, we aim to improve local capacities in terms of maintenance and management of the water facilities created.

Improving food safety for the people of Vakaga and Sam Ouandja

• Funding: CHF (United Nations Common Humanitarian Fund)
• Global budget: €160,000
• Duration: 9 months (April - December 2010)

Since we first became active in north-eastern CAR, Triangle G H has supported and developed agricultural schemes. The agricultural potential of the target regions is strong, however endemic insecurity causes displacement of populations and destruction, and impairs satisfying food production. 
Although Triangle GH has also been affected by several security incidents, and despite growing logistical difficulties, we continue to work alongside Central African populations by supplying farming inputs. Absence of such supplies would dramatically impact food production.

Improvement of market gardening production and capacity building of technical knowledge in Birao, Ouanda Djallé, Tiringoulou, Sikikédé and Sam Ouandja

• Funding: CHF (United Nations Common Humanitarian Fund)
• Global budget: €178,000 + donations in kind (seed and tools) from the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations)
• Duration: 10 months (May 2010 - February 2011)

This programme complements the previous programme on market gardening. It will prolong the benefits to the winter season during which irrigated farming (namely market gardening) is practiced.

Improving food safety for the people of Vakaga and Haute Kotto

• Funding : FAO, CIAA – signature of project conventions in progress (April 09)
• Global budget: €290,000
• Duration: 7 months (March – October 2009)

Thanks to support from the Fonds Commun Humanitaire (CHF), at the end of 2008 and the start of 2009, Triangle assessed the food safety situation and potential farming development schemes in the areas where we operate. Despite the fact that such areas possess considerable farming possibilities, food shortage is common among most of the families living there. Such shortages have taken root as a consequence of social, geographical and economic isolation. That same isolation that nurtured the devastating rebellion that still shakes the country despite tangible developmental and political progress

Towards sustainable access to drinking water for vulnerable populations

• Funding: ECHO
• Global budget: €260,000
• Duration: 9,5 months (March – December 2009)

The town of Sam Ouandja has no source of potable water despite the fact that it is available underground in sufficient quantity. The problem stems from the lack of infrastructures capable of extracting the water. Beyond the technical work required to access water, it is important to support the creation of collective water management tools to ensure the action’s sustainability.

Improve access to primary education in Sam Ouandja

• Funding: UNICEF
• Global budget: €162,000
• Duration: 9 months (November 2008 – September 2009)

Since May 2007, when we started working with Sudanese refugees in Sam Ouandja, we have been assessing the humanitarian needs of the local residents. Because the very specific sociology of this diamondiferous, isolated area hinders spontaneous and efficient organisation of collective services, it appears essential to energise and promote public services with programmes generating visible benefits for the population.

Support to refugees in Sam Ouandja

This programme extends our previous programme to help Sudanese refugees living on the outskirts of Sam Ouandja (Prefecture of Haute-Kotto).

• Funding : UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
• Global budget: €600,000 + donations in kind
• Duration: 2 x 12 months (January to December 2008, re-conducted from January to December 2009)

Aiming to stabilise the humanitarian situation of the refugees, Triangle’s activities in the camp achieved the following results:

• Primary needs of the refugees are covered
• The camp benefits from controlled sanitary standards
• The refugees’ economic and food safety has improved
• Social and educational activities are available and are helping to federate the community.

More specifically, Triangle’s programme achieved:

• Daily operation and maintenance of a potable water station
• Monthly distribution of food and non-food stuffs, according to seasonal needs
• Distribution of seeds and tools for key rain-season cultures and out-of-season cultures
• Organisation and management of the primary school and implementation of recreational activities for the children in the camp
• Implementation of a kindergarten
• Organisation of non formal training and income-generating activities for women and young adults
• Organisation of adult literacy classes

Implementation of these activities took place in close collaboration with the HCR and National Commission for Refugees (NCR), helping to keep these agencies up to date about the humanitarian situation and the safety of the refugees.