Refugees International is conducting a humanitarian assessment mission to the Central African Republic (CAR) from November 27 to December 13, 2007. The RI team will follow up on RI’s previous assessments in CAR in November 2006 and March 2007.

Since 2005 hundreds of thousands of Central Africans have left their homes and are living in hiding in their fields. The most important cause of displacement in CAR is a conflict between rebels loyal to ousted President Ange-Félix Patassé and current President Francois Bozizé. In the last year, the dire humanitarian situation in CAR has gained prominence, notably because of its presumed ties with the ongoing conflict in Darfur. International engagement has increased, and with it growing pressure on President Bozizé to reign in government forces.

RI’s mission will look at the causes of displacement and the humanitarian conditions of the displaced, specifically in the northwest of the country. RI will assess the current security conditions and its impact on humanitarian access and the possibility of returns. Additionally, the mission will monitor the progress in the humanitarian response, in particular the impact of the recent expansion of UN and NGO field presence in the northwest.