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<p> </p><p>The ongoing violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) continues to
take a distressing toll on the civilian population, compounding an already acute humanitarian
crisis. The UN estimates that 557,000 people have been displaced within CAR, with
483,000 estimated to have fled the country, of whom 358,000 are refugees in the Democratic
Republic of Congo, Chad, Cameroon, Republic of Congo and South Sudan.</p><p>Prior
to the crisis, CAR was host to over 15,000 refugees from DRC and Sudan; however the
deteriorating security situation has led to the voluntary repatriation of many refugees
with support from UNHCR. In April over 6,000 Congolese refugees were voluntarily repatriated
to Equateur province in DRC - a further sign of the gravity of the situation in CAR.</p><p>The
crisis is having a marked impact on education provision, with the UN Office for Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs estimating that 400,000 vulnerable children are in need of
emergency access to education. Many schools outside the capital have been closed since
the onset of the crisis and whilst some schools in Bangui have reopened, work on rebuilding
educational institutions as well as infrastructure is needed. The Multi-Cluster Initial
Rapid Assessment in January 2014 placed the level of functioning schools at 4%, with
many looted and occupied by displaced people, but did not report military use of schools.
The interruption of education affects both girls and boys.</p><p>The most important
need continues to be security, and the UK has worked closely with international partners,
including the African Union (AU), to support efforts to bring stability to the country.
We have provided £2m in non-lethal support to the UN-mandated AU force, MISCA, which
despite serious challenges, has worked well with the French Operation Sangaris to
bring some security to the country. We will continue to work with the AU and others
as we approach the handover to the UN Peace Keeping Operation, MINUSCA, in September
2014, and as preparations are made for elections, currently scheduled for 2015.</p><p>
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