The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked African country with 16 prefectures. The Central African Republic is among the world's poorest countries, despite the fact that the country has rich natural resources. Approximately 90 percent of the Central African Republic population lives in poverty, without adequate access to food, decent housing, water, or sanitation. One of the main causes of poverty is the ongoing conflict that has destroyed the country. This conflict has led to a deterioration of living conditions in the Central African Republic and the way of life of many citizens.
Where is Central African Republic?
The Central African Republic is located in Central Africa (obviously).
Cameroon borders the Central African Republic to the west, Chad to the north, Sudan and South Sudan to the east, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo to the south.
The Central African Republic is perhaps the richest country in the world when it comes to natural beauty and wildlife diversity. However, in terms of money, the country is one of the world's poorest. As the CAR is landlocked between several other war-torn countries and faces difficulties related to poaching, military violence, and general lawlessness, travel to Central African Republic is strongly discouraged. Like most of the countries of the African continent, the history of the country is marred by European colonization, the remnants of which can still be seen in some of the main African cities.
However, the country has its own charm, which manifests itself in various shapes and sizes, ranging from rare butterflies to gorillas and elephants. Where is Central African Republic located, there is a unique beauty. Nowhere on earth is a more suitable place for safaris and wildlife lovers. Even with such natural resources as these countries, tourism cannot thrive because of its political problems.
The country is one of the least developed on the continent and even in the world, but the Central African Republic people mostly remain friendly and honest.
Central African Republic tourist attractions:
Bangui
The capital of Central African Republic, Bangui, is located on the Ubangi Riverbank. Like many African cities, the nightlife and markets are well worth a visit. Besides, the main attraction of the Central African Republic is the Presidential Palace. The city's location within the Ubangi River's rapids and the nearby hills makes it a city with natural charm. Despite this, the city is rough and ready for operation, with dusty roads and an underdeveloped atmosphere. A popular place to visit is the so-called Grand Mosque, which houses several museums documenting both the colonization of the country and its indigenous Central African Republic population's culture. The sights can be mastered in a couple of days, but if you like this place's atmosphere, you may feel that you will stay here for a long time.
Manovo-Gounda National Park
Located on the border between the Central African Republic and Chad, Manovo-Gounda National Park is one of the country's best places to see wildlife. The park covers a huge area of about 1.75 million hectares and is home to many animals, including the incredibly rare black rhino. Other animal species found in the park include wild dogs, cheetahs, elephants, and leopards. Throughout the year, the park hosts numerous safaris with local and knowledgeable guides.
Chinko Nature Reserve
Also known as the Chinko Project, the Chinko Nature Reserve is based on the Chinko Drainage Basin. The nature reserve is home to many species and is considered one of the most biologically diverse places. It is currently under threat from armed herdsmen, who kill all predators when crossing this territory to protect their herd. The reserve is also under threat from ivory poachers. Despite these threats, the area is a fascinating place to visit and, if you're so inclined, it's also a great project to get involved in.
Boali City
The small town of Boali is mostly visited by the nearby Boali Falls. These waterfalls are located upstream from the city and are arguably the most famous tourist attraction in the Central African Republic. Waterfalls consist of several small and separate waterfalls in the dry season, but they combine to form a powerful and impressive waterfall in the wet season. There are several tourist companies at the top of the waterfall, and there is even a hotel and restaurant.
Bouar city
To get acquainted with ancient Africa, you need to visit the small town of Bouar. Not far from the city is a large number of stone megaliths, popularly known as Tajuna. It is believed that they mark burial sites, and some reach 5 meters in height. The stones date back to the Neolithic era, so they are as old as Stonehenge in the UK, but there is something to see here. This place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lobaye
Lobaye is a region in the Central African Republic. It is one of the best places to see the indigenous population, including pygmies. The area is only 60 miles from the capital of Central African Republic, but the lifestyle here is very different. Lobaye is also known for producing excellent coffee, and visitors can explore the plantations and learn more about how they are grown.
As you may have noticed, most of the Central African Republic tourist attractions and the whole of Africa are connected with nature. Authenticity, unspoilt nature and pure beauty characterize your stay in this amazing place.
Let us turn to the facts about the living conditions in the Central African Republic:
1. The country and many humanitarian organizations are making a desperate appeal to the world for help. About 2.9 million of the current 4.8 million Central African Republic people living in the country will need assistance. It is more than half of the population. On 7 January, the Government, together with the United Nations, launched a Humanitarian Response Plan for 2019, requesting almost $ 431 million.
2. For most of the population, the living conditions in the Central African Republic are too dangerous. Many of them were forced to leave their homes and descend into chaos. As of January 2019, the current number of internally displaced persons is 640,969. The displaced living conditions, who live mainly in churches, mosques, public buildings, and the airport, are no better. Refugees are often forced to sleep outdoors, making them vulnerable to harsh weather conditions. They have limited access to clean water, food, or medical care.
3. For those who can cross the refugee camps' borders, the conditions are not much better. More than 598,000 refugees from the country are forced to live in overcrowded villages or scattered along the borders. The neighbouring country to the west, Cameroon, receives the largest number of Central African refugees, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). As of December 2018, about 275,700 refugees have found refuge in the country.
4. Almost half of all Central African people are under the age of 14. Notably, 370,000 of these children are orphans who will grow up without one or both parents. The SOS children's villages in Bangui and Bouar are home to thousands of children, many of whom have been orphaned by AIDS or civil war.
5. Malnutrition is a serious problem in the Central African Republic. A survey conducted by USAID in January 2019 found that 10 prefectures in the country have excessive levels of acute malnutrition. About 1.9 million Central African Republic people in the country face a serious problem of food insecurity. In an effort to help, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) distributed food aid to more than 5,000 people in the Saint-Jean-de-Galabaja parish in Bangui. In December 2018, USAID, in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme, provided emergency food assistance to more than 628,000 people experiencing food shortages.
6. Diseases such as malaria, leprosy, tuberculosis, nutrition-related diseases, and sexually transmitted diseases are the country's main health problems. Unfortunately, clinics and first aid stations provide little support. There is only one hospital in the capital of Central African Republic, Bangui, and there is almost no medical care outside the city.
7. As violence continues and more citizens are displaced, access to clean water becomes increasingly difficult. In rural areas, clean water is often not available, which allows the spread of numerous diseases. In response to this problem, the ICRC helped install 11 taps connected to the municipal water supply network and three water tanks, equipped with 24 taps, for the approximately 35,000 displaced persons gathered at Bangui Airport. The ICRC plans to increase the number of taps and latrines in various locations to increase access.
8. Travel to Central African Republic may be difficult. The country has only about 400 miles of paved roads and no access to the sea by rail. However, most of the country relies on the rivers that run through it for communication and trade. Due to the difficulty of moving on unpaved roads or the lack of access to ferries, displaced persons live in scattered areas throughout the country and in border areas.
9. Many NGOs are trying to improve living conditions in the Central African Republic. One of them is the Mercy Corps, which has been operating in the country since 2007. The Mercy Corps helps the residents of the country in various ways. It provides immediate assistance to displaced families and orphaned children fleeing the violence that afflicts the country. It also functions as a support center for victims of violence, which provides a link to health care, counseling, and legal services for victims of gender-based violence. Other services include training members of the Vulnerable Persons Corps in income-generating activities, building wells, and leading play therapy and child protection committees to help children recover from traumatic violence.
10. The World Food Programme is also working in the Central African Republic with UNHCR, UNICEF, and NGO partners to provide vulnerable communities with basic food and nutrition through food distribution. WFP also helps support small-scale farmers in rebuilding and expanding their productive assets. When school meals and general food distribution programs are purchased from smallholders, 46,000 farmers will benefit from them. 60% of them are women.
As the country is currently one of the poorest countries in the world, much remains to be done. However, there is still hope for improving living conditions in the Central African Republic, whose future is in our hands.
