The Australian Government will provide $4 million in emergency assistance for communities affected by the ongoing violence and instability in the Central African Republic.
The funding will be used to provide critical humanitarian aid, including emergency medical, food, water and essential household items for people displaced by the conflict.
The humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic is dire, with more than half of the country's population in need of assistance. Approximately 700,000 people are displaced internally and there are nearly 300,000 refugees in neighbouring countries. The Central African Republic is one of only four United Nations-declared Level 3 humanitarian emergencies worldwide, representing the highest level of emergency.
Australia has been active in the UN Security Council since the early stages of the crisis in the Central African Republic, including co-sponsoring UN Security Council decisions which have strengthened the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic, approved targeted sanctions and authorised a European Union military mission to support African Union and French troops on the ground. Most recently, Australia has contributed to high level consultations on the Secretary-General's recommendation to transition to a UN peacekeeping operation.
The Australian Government continues to strongly advise Australians not to travel to the Central African Republic due to the dangerous security situation, activities of armed rebels and high levels of serious crime.
