NEW YORK, United States of America, October 20, 2015/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
WHO: United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien
WHAT: Mission to the Central African Republic and Cameroon
WHEN: 20 – 23 October 2015
WHERE: Bangui and field visit, Yaoundé
Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Stephen O’Brien, will visit the Central African Republic from 20 to 23 October to take stock of the ongoing humanitarian crisis, deepened by the recent violence.
Almost 400,000 people have fled their homes in the Central African Republic (CAR) to seek refuge in spontaneous sites of displaced persons and with host families while more than 454,086 have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. Around 2.7 million people need immediate humanitarian assistance, while reports of terrible atrocities and attacks against civilians and aid workers continue.
During his three-day visit, USG O’Brien hopes to meet displaced people and local authorities in Bangui and in Kémo province. He is scheduled to also meet President Catherine Samba-Panza, other senior officials and representatives of the humanitarian community to discuss challenges in delivering assistance and ways of improving response to those affected by the crisis.
The Emergency Relief Coordinator is then expected to travel to Cameroon on 23 October, to meet senior Government officials and the humanitarian community there to raise awareness of the humanitarian situation and discuss ways to better support those affected by the crises in neighbouring CAR and Nigeria.
