UN humanitarian chief expected in Central African Republic to evaluate emergency interventions

UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos is expected in Bangui on Tuesday to evaluate humanitarian interventions in the capital of Central African Republic and the northwestern town of Bossangoa. The information was revealed in a press statement sent to Xinhua from the UN Bureau for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)in Bangui. During her visit, Amos will be accompanied by the executive director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibe and the African Union's commissioner for political affairs Aicha L. Abdullahi. Central African Republic descended into violence in March 2013 after coming to power of ex-Seleka rebels led by Michel Djotodia, who was forced to resign on Jan. 10 as the country's president. Massacres, summary executions and looting continue to be perpetrated because of rivalry between the self-defense militia commonly referred to as anti-Balakas and the ex-Seleka rebels. "Amos will seek to know the serious humanitarian crisis affecting Central African Republic and understand the challenges facing humanitarian actors," the statement said. According to the agencies of the UN system, following the escalation of inter-ethnic violence in December last year, the number of internally displaced persons has passed 714,000, including 288,000 taking shelter in Bangui. The UN said in a statement released recently that almost half of the 4.6 million population of Central African Republic are in need of immediate assistance. From Feb. 18 to 20, Amos will visit affected zones and hold meetings with political and religious leaders. "As for Sidibe, he came to handle issues of integration of HIV/ AIDS into emergency humanitarian assistance," the local representative of UNAIDS Vincent Takpa told Xinhua. In Central African Republic, a total of 15,000 people living with AIDS are currently under ARV treatment, while 60,000 are eligible for the treatment. The drugs are entirely provided by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.