Restoration of living conditions, means of production and access to WASH services for displaced, returned and host communities of Bria and Batangafo, in the Central African Republic.

The country is divided into several regions, including the Ouham Pendé region, where the sub-prefecture of Batangafo is located, and the Haute Kotto region, where the sub-prefecture of Bria is located. The humanitarian crisis in CAR is characterized by widespread violence, displacement, and poverty. The conflict has resulted in the displacement of over 1 million people, with many more affected by the crisis. The humanitarian response in CAR is led by the United Nations, with support from international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Oxfam. Oxfam's humanitarian response in CAR focuses on providing assistance to displaced, returned, and host communities in the sub-prefectures of Batangafo and Bria. The organization's response includes providing access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, food security, and assistance for livelihood restoration. Oxfam also works to reduce protection risks and improve emergency response preparedness. In Batangafo, Oxfam's response has been focused on providing WASH services, including the construction of water points, latrines, and showers. The organization has also provided training to local actors on water treatment techniques and has supported the management of garbage in displaced persons sites. In addition, Oxfam has provided awareness-raising sessions on good hygiene practices and COVID-19 prevention measures. In Bria, Oxfam's response has been focused on providing food security assistance, including the distribution of agricultural kits to beneficiary households. The organization has also provided technical and tillage support to build production capacity and has trained beneficiaries on cropping patterns of food production crops. In addition, Oxfam has provided capacity-building kits to 25 groups working in income-generating activities (IGAs) such as soapmaking and brickery. Oxfam's Protection sector in CAR has been working to reduce protection risks and improve emergency response preparedness. The organization has conducted risk analyses and awareness-raising sessions on protection measures, and has provided training to Oxfam staff and community structures on program security. In addition, Oxfam has organized inter-community dialog sessions and has monitored beneficiaries' access to WASH and emergency food security and livelihood (EFSL) services. The security context in Batangafo remains precarious, with armed groups controlling the city despite the presence of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). During the reporting period, there were intrusions in NGO bases, including Oxfam's base, and a team of six people from the humanitarian organization DRC was abducted by armed individuals. This incident led to the suspension of non-essential humanitarian activities by all humanitarian workers in the city of Batangafo. The humanitarian crisis in CAR is ongoing, with widespread violence, displacement, and poverty affecting the population. Oxfam's response in CAR focuses on providing assistance to displaced, returned, and host communities, with a focus on WASH services, food security, and livelihood restoration. The organization also works to reduce protection risks and improve emergency response preparedness.