“2.8 million people in the CAR require humanitarian aid and close to 2.3 million people face acute food insecurity,” said Cheick Ba, Head of the EU’s Humanitarian Aid Office in Bangui, Central African Republic. “The European Union is maintaining its humanitarian support to the most vulnerable people in the CAR, where we have funded close to €236 million in emergency food aid, shelter, access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation, and basic primary healthcare since 2014.”

Tearfund has a long tradition of humanitarian support and promoting sustainable development in CAR providing assistance centered around food security, livelihoods and WASH activities. Under this project, Tearfund will be working with International Medical Corps as an implementing partner. The overarching goal is to reduce mortality and morbidity through the provision of holistic and integrated health, nutrition, water, hygiene and sanitation, and protection services to conflict-affected communities.

This new grant arrives at an extremely critical time given the recent crisis. Needs assessments confirm rising levels of acute food insecurity and indicate limited access to safe water and proper sanitation facilities. With funding from the European Union, Tearfund and International Medical Corps will provide rapid responses to address needs among some of the most vulnerable populations in Bambari.

Programme activities - which will serve approximately 73,000 beneficiaries - started in June 2021, with a total duration of nine month and targeting six health facilities. It ensures the continuation of health services in Madomale, Sio and Bambari regional hospitals as well as three additional facilities. The project will also be focusing on the critical needs of at-risk groups including women and girls, including focusing on harmful norms, attitudes and behaviors which perpetuate gender-based violence (GBV).

Tearfund Netherlands is a member of Tearfund family. As a family, Tearfund is a known development agent and provides needs to vulnerable groups, and local populations in more than 50 countries. Tearfund Netherlands through local partnerships reached to more than 20 of the world’s poorest countries. We tackle poverty through sustainable development, responding to disasters, and challenging injustice.

About EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid

The European Union and its Member States are the world's leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises. Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian aid Operations department (ECHO), the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.

For further information, please contact:

Hilaire Avril

Regional Information Officer for North, West and Central Africa

European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)

Tel: +221 77 740 92 17 Hilaire.Avril@echofield.eu