The term “Humanitarian Action” generally refers to the various initiatives undertaken by state or non-state actors with the ultimate goal of urgently saving lives or alleviating the suffering of populations following the occurrence of a natural crisis or one of human origin. This assistance can take the form of food, medicine, shelter or protection for populations in situations of extreme need, whether due to natural disasters or anthropogenic causes such as armed conflicts or violence.
The major humanitarian challenge that Central Africa faces is that of forced displacement of populations due to security crises which persist in certain countries within the subregion and other subregional blocks or neighbouring countries of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). These displacements can also result from recurrent natural disasters. According to a report from the UNHCR Regional Office for West and Central Africa, in December 2023 the total number of people affected by forced displacement in the ECCAS zone amounted to 10,835,227, including 8,201,422 internally displaced people, and 2,512,851 refugees and other asylum seekers. This report also indicates that the four countries most affected by forced population movements are, in order of statistical importance, the DRC with 6,820,696, Cameroon with 1,563,537, Chad with 1,422,322 and the Central African Republic (CAR) with 600,259.
At the same time, a report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlights that people in situations of forced displacement in the region are generally faced with protection deficits, are exposed to the risks of gender-based violence, exploitation and various forms of abuse, as well as limited access to basic services and livelihoods. The same is true of the communities that host these displaced people who also suffer from food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty.
Faced with these major challenges, ECCAS has resolved to place the question of human security at the heart of its action, as reflected in its new Treaty that was revised in 2019, and which encourages the region to work towards defining a policy of humanitarian assistance and responses to natural and industrial disasters.
As part of the Priority Action Plan for the implementation of the ECCAS Medium-Term Indicative Strategic Plan 2021-2025, the ECCAS Commission, through the Department of Gender Promotion, Human and Social Development, as well as the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, is responsible for undertaking a study on the problem of protecting displaced and refugee populations and the search for lasting solutions in Central Africa.
In the same vein, the 22nd and 23rd ordinary sessions of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECCAS instructed the Commission to strengthen its involvement in the humanitarian field and decided to set up a special contribution from Member States aimed at the establishment of a solidarity fund.
ECCAS is convening its First Regional Humanitarian Forum in November 2024, with numerous partners, to examine the proposals for a nascent regional humanitarian policy as part of ECCAS’s objective of social integration and human development, one of the priority areas for regional integration in Central Africa.
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The States of the region have made commendable efforts in recent years for better disaster management, notably through, for example, the establishment of appropriate institutions and legislation for disaster risk reduction. However, the humanitarian response in many countries in the region remains ad hoc and episodic due to the lack of national procedures. The response to humanitarian crises in the region is still faced with numerous challenges, including the violation or non-respect of universally recognised values and other principles supposed to guide humanitarian action: principles of humanity, independence, neutrality. and impartiality. The analysis of the humanitarian response framework in Central Africa demonstrates limits in intervention capacities. Likewise, the populations of the region remain vulnerable to humanitarian shocks due to deficiencies in community preparation for these shocks. Another challenge encountered by humanitarian actors active in the region in their efforts for an effective and efficient response to humanitarian shocks occurring in Central Africa is that of the insufficiency of financial, material and even human resources mobilised in relation to the identified humanitarian needs for the most affected populations.
The response to humanitarian crises in Central Africa is also hampered by the large number of attacks against humanitarian actors recorded in the region. Indeed, these attacks have the direct consequence of limiting humanitarian assistance for the most affected populations. According to a report from the OCHA Office, the number of incidents affecting humanitarian personnel and goods in the CAR stood at 14 in December 2023. These incidents included 4 cases of robbery, 3 cases of verbal threats, 2 cases of interference, 2 cases of detention followed by release, 2 cases of harassment and 1 case of physical assault. In addition to these incidents affecting humanitarian workers, the response to humanitarian crises in the ECCAS zone is further complicated by the poor state of the roads, the presence of mines and other explosive devices, and the bureaucratic challenges associated with obtaining visas and other residence permits for humanitarian workers.
The need for a regional humanitarian policy in Central Africa
The frequent humanitarian crises, coupled with the recurrence of diverse and multiple epidemics that have devastating effects on the health and well-being of populations, and disrupt community balance and cohesion, highlight the need for effective response mechanisms in the region. Consequently, ECCAS is convening its First Regional Humanitarian Forum in November 2024, with numerous partners, to examine the proposals for a nascent regional humanitarian policy as part of ECCAS’s objective of social integration and human development, one of the priority areas for regional integration in Central Africa.
Given the complexity of the crises occurring in the region, their diversity and their sometimes-transnational nature, the ECCAS regional humanitarian policy should be aligned with the principlesset out in the various humanitarian instruments adopted at the continental and global levels.
The ECCAS Humanitarian Policy will aim to achieve seven objectives:
- Ensure that legal frameworks to prevent and respond to situations and disasters in the region are developed and implemented;
- Design or strengthen institutions for handling emergency situations and responding to humanitarian crises;
- Ensure adherence to and respect for the principles of international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights by Member States, citizens and other groups as a means of mitigating the impact of conflicts on civilian populations;
- Promote national frameworks to protect vulnerable people, particularly women, children, and people living with disabilities during emergencies;
- Maximise the use of media and communication with the aim of highlighting humanitarian issues as emergency management tools;
- Strengthen the capacities of social actors to deal with humanitarian problems; and
- Design and implement a mechanism for mobilising the necessary own resources complementing possible external contributions, for the efficient and effective care of the most affected people during the occurrence of potential humanitarian crises of natural or anthropogenic origin and epidemics in the region.
In addition, ECCAS will ensure the establishment of the ECCAS Regional Solidarity Fund (RSF), which will aim, among other objectives, to contribute to the financing of interventions in emergency situations.
It is envisaged that ECCAS interventions or humanitarian actions will be based on principles of humanity, treating individuals humanely in all circumstances by saving lives and alleviating suffering while ensuring respect for individuals.
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Principles of human security for the conduct of humanitarian action
It is envisaged that ECCAS interventions or humanitarian actions will be based on principles of humanity, treating individuals humanely in all circumstances by saving lives and alleviating suffering while ensuring respect for individuals.
Furthermore, the provision of humanitarian aid should be impartial, not influenced by nationality, race, religion or political opinion, and focused solely on rights and needs.
Independence, or the application of policies independent of government policies and measures, must be sought, alongside neutrality. The principle of “do no harm” must be actively implemented on the ground to encourage all stakeholders, including humanitarian workers and member states alike, to conduct a rigorous review of their work, to ask fundamental questions about their methods, and even to reorganise their procedures for providing humanitarian aid so as to “do no harm” or, in in all cases, to minimise any harm that their actions – intended to protect and save lives – might cause to the beneficiaries. This is explained by the fact that humanitarian aid can sometimes become an integral part of the conflict dynamic and potentially prolong or exacerbate its underlying causes.
Humanitarian actors intervening in the ECCAS region must be aware of these risks and take the necessary measures to minimise, or ideally eliminate the potential harm to the people most affected by their actions.
Kapinga Yvette Ngandu is the ECCAS Commissioner for Gender, Human and Social Development.
