Shelter and infrastructure

2020

Access to decent housing is still a challenge for the majority of citizens in CAR and even more so for returnees. As of 31 December 2020, UNHCR has facilitated the return of 21,222 Central African refugees to CAR. Based on the national shelter strategy, priority is given to the most vulnerable returnees. The strategy also defines the criteria for the selection of beneficiaries as well as the modalities of implementation through cash assistance and the distribution of construction material kits. This approach, based on the direct participation of returnees, ensures freedom of choice of materials and labour management.

At the end of the identification and selection process, 380 households were targeted to benefit from the reintegration support project through the construction of semi-durable shelters in the three return zones of Nana-Mambere, Mambere-Kadei and Lobaye.

In the Nana-Mambere and Mambere-Kadei areas, the type of shelter built is a standard model defined in consultation with the Ministry of Urban Planning. This model is made of locally available materials and built by local labour managed by the beneficiaries themselves. Technical monitoring is carried out by UNHCR's implementing partner, FLM. In the Lobaye region, in Mongoumba, the project for the construction of 130 shelters was selected to be developed on the model of a village spread over an area of 60 hectares made available by the government.

In terms of development, the integrated village model, which has emerged from the ministerial and local authorities in Lobaye, could accommodate both returnees and members of the local community. It would help to solve the problems posed by the irruption of spontaneous and anarchic settlements in the region, as well as alleviating the logistical difficulties encountered in very remote villages.

It is also expected that the clustering of shelters on a serviced estate would help alleviate the land problems faced by the majority of returnees and will be progressively equipped with adequate services and infrastructure.

In this regard, UNHCR has enabled the topographical studies of the site to be carried out with its implementing partner NOURRIR, as well as the identification of the 130 beneficiary households, the preparation and parcelling out of the site, the prefabrication of the hydroformed bricks and the allocation of the plots to the beneficiaries, including the purchase and storage of all the shelter construction materials in the UNHCR shops.

Due to widespread insecurity at the end of 2020, some intervention areas were less accessible. Some challenges have also delayed the development of the project, including a delay in the provision of the site and earthmoving equipment, and some slowness on the part of the durable solutions partners. Logistical difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with heavy rainfall in the project area, caused a deterioration in the condition of roads and structures such as bridges and culverts, which compromised the timely supply of construction materials. Following the declaration of a level 1 emergency in CAR, the continuation of the works has been suspended due to the resurgence of insecurity in the country in general and in Lobaye in particular. However, it is expected that shelter construction activities will be fully completed by 2021.