Central African Republic situation

A decade of insecurity and political instability has displaced almost 1.3 million people within and across the Central African Republic borders.

 

Situation plans:
2023
Situation reports:
2022 | Previous years
Widowed Sudanese refugee Fatma and her children sit near community shelters at the UNHCR-supported Korsi site, near Birao, Central African Republic. The family is among more than 1,200 Sudanese refugees who have settled at the newly established site after fleeing the conflict at home. © UNHCR/Josselin Brémaud
Widowed Sudanese refugee Fatma and her children sit near community shelters at the UNHCR-supported Korsi site, near Birao, Central African Republic. The family is among more than 1,200 Sudanese refugees who have settled at the newly established site after fleeing the conflict at home. © UNHCR/Josselin Brémaud
View All

2024 population planning figures

  • Central African refugees and asylum-seekers in neighbouring countries: 725,900 
  • IDPs: 500,000

  • Refugee and IDP returnees: 145,000

View All

2024 situation overview

A decade of insecurity and political instability in the Central African Republic (CAR) has displaced almost 1.3 million people within and across borders, resulting in one in five Central Africans being displaced. In 2022 and 2023 improved security in certain areas allowed for voluntary repatriation and, although some tension and conflict are expected to persist in 2024, returns to stabilized areas are expected to increase.

To support about 25,000 safe and dignified returns to the CAR, mainly from Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, UNHCR will encourage and support the conclusion of tripartite agreements with countries of asylum.

 

In Amdafock, a sudanese refugee seeks refuge during a sand storm. Thousands of Sudanese forcibly displaced crossed the Central African Republic border since the month of April, fleeing violence in Darfur. © UNHCR/Xavier Bourgois
In Amdafock, a sudanese refugee seeks refuge during a sand storm. Thousands of sudanese civilians crossed the CAR border since the month of april, fleiing violence in Darfur. © UNHCR/Xavier Bourgois

However, thousands of Central Africans will remain in protracted situations of displacement within the CAR and in neighbouring countries, giving rise to a need for UNHCR's protection work and support for durable solutions and socioeconomic inclusion, targeting 350,000 IDPs and 87,500 people in the hosting communities. The focus will be on gender-based violence prevention, mitigation and response; access to documentation; and social cohesion. UNHCR aims to ensure that 50% of Central African IDPs have access to available gender-based violence services.  

UNHCR is working closely with the seven signatory countries of the Yaoundé Declaration on Solutions in the context of Forced Displacement related to the Central African Republic Crisis, namely CAR, Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Sudan and South Sudan, and supported the launch of the CAR Solution Support Platform on 31 October 2023.  

In accordance with the Global Compact for Refugees, aimed at attaining more equitable, effective and predictable support for the large-scale displacement situations, the platform will mobilize political, technical, and financial support at local, regional and global levels towards a comprehensive response to the CAR displacement crisis

 

View All

In 2024, UNHCR will provide technical support to the members of the platform on the implementation of national strategies and plans of action, with the following objectives:  

  • strengthening the institutional and normative framework for the protection of refugees, asylum-seekers, returnees and internally displaced people;  

  • promoting the socioeconomic inclusion, resilience and empowerment of refugees from the CAR and host communities;  

  • and promoting conducive conditions to the sustainable return and the effective reintegration of returnees and internally displaced people.  

Additionally, as the Secretariat of the platform, UNHCR will encourage and support fostering interaction between different components of the platform, assist in documenting progress, and support an independent evaluation mechanism.