Central African Republic
THE IDP SITUATION IN BANGUI Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Report November 2014 International Organization for Migration
DISPLACEMENT TRACKING MATRIX IN BANGUI
November 2014
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Internal Displacement in Bangui from December 2013 to November 2014 350000 300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0
Main Displacement Trends x x x x x
According to data published by the Commission for the Movement of Population (CMP) 61,244 internally displaced persons were found at IDP sites in Bangui and Bimbo by 18 November 2014;; Some IDP sites continue to report rounded estimates with more detailed counting pending (i.e. Grand sÊminaire de St. Marc de Bimbo, Mission Carmel and Eglise des Frères Castors); The overall downward trend of internal displacement continues, with the number of displaced at IDP sites in Bangui decreased by approximately 80% since December 2013; However, the upsurge in violence registered between 8 and 15 October led to a slower reduction in the overall downward trend than should have been expected otherwise; The districts with the greatest concentration of IDP sites and IDPs in Bangui including Bimbo continue to be Mpoko Airport, the 3rd and 2nd Arrondissements in Bangui and the commune of Bimbo.
25000 20495 20000
17569
15000 10000
6503
5000
5500
4884 2025
1145
695
487
318
49
11
Bangui 6th
Bangui 5th
Bangui 8th
Bangui 4th
Bangui 7th
Bangui 1st
0 Mpoko Bimbo 1 Bangui Bimbo 4 Bimbo 2 Bangui Airport 3rd 2nd
Summary Migration Intentions of IDPs x x x
page 2
82% of the total 309 IDPs interviewed for this survey envision to leave their displacement site within the next 4 weeks, compared to 91% reported in the previous survey (September 2014); Of these, 63% intend to return to their original homes while 19% prefer relocating elsewhere; 70% of the surveyed IDPs are house owners while 26% currently rent their homes, compared to 58% and 33%, respectively, in September.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Summary Priority Needs of IDPs x x x x
The main challenges cited by IDPs on the sites continue to be overall living conditions, food insecurity, limited access to work and overall economic vulnerability; Besides high levels of insecurity the main reasons for remaining displaced continue to be a lack of financial means (66%) and belongings having been stolen (64%); As main factors enabling return or relocation IDPs continue to quote the return of the rule of law (77%), regular patrols by security forces (70%) and access to acceptable housing (55%); The single most important precondition for return is overall security in the neighborhood and the disarmament of both Seleka and Anti-Balaka, as well as the presence of security forces.
x Code BGI-S001 BGI_S020 BGI_S029 BGI_S041 BGI_S009 BGI_S011 BGI_S080 BGI_S002 BGI_S067 BGI_S015 BGI_S030 BGI_S059 BGI_S044 BGI_S098 BGI_S104 BGI_S110 BGI_S111 BGI_S068 BGI_S017 BGI_S039 BGI_S038 BGI_S102 BGI_S053 BGI_S114 BGI_S113 BGI_S034 BGI_S079 BGI_S081 BGI_S045 BGI_S103 BGI_S003 BGI_S086 BGI_S006 BGI_S062 BGI_S058 BGI_S069 TOTAL
page 3
Collective IDP Sites Bangui International Airport Mpoko Grand séminaire St Marc de Bimbo Mission Carmel Saint Joseph Mukassa Don Bosco / Damala Eglise des Frères Castors Pere Combonien Apôtres de Jesus Crucifié / Centre de Sante Padre Pio Saint Sauveur Eglise Notre Dame de Fatima Mission St Charles Luanga Mosquee Centrale Saint Jacques de Kpetene Capucin Sanctuaire de Ben-Zvi Djongo Saint Paul de Chartres Centre Jean 23 Faculte de Theologie (FATEB) Saint Jean de Gabaladja Saint Antoine de Padoue Complexe Scolaire Adventiste Quartier Votongbo2 Eglise apostolique Kpetene Federation des deplaces Paroisse Sainte Trinité des Castors Maison Micheline Eglise evangélique luthérienne St Michel de Bazanga Complexe Pédagogique Bethanie Archevêché - St Paul - Paroisse ASECNA -Article 10 Communaute Petites Soeurs Coeur de Jesus Grande Ecole islamique franco arabe Nasradine Père Lazariste Eglise evangelique Foursquare
# of IDPs 20,495 8,000 6,700 5,000 3,845 3,400 1,752 1,563 1,275 1,088 1,039 918 850 650 529 500 415 400 350 350 349 349 318 295 172 150 118 117 93 70 42 20 11 11 7 3 61,244
DISPLACEMENT TRACKING MATRIX IN BANGUI
page 4
November 2014
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
1. INTRODUCTION This Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) report provides information on the profile of displaced populations, their conditions and needs at the displacement sites, as well as return or relocation intentions. This document encompasses both the information collected through the return intention surveys and that collected through the DTM questionnaires on the sites. This initiative aims at improving the quality and relevance of the information upon which humanitarian actors make decisions to provide assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Following the violence that erupted in the Central African Republic (CAR) in December 2013 between ‘Seleka’ and ‘Anti-Balaka’, the Capital of the country, Bangui became the theater of mass displacement. Since the beginning of the crisis, through a team of site facilitators, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been monitoring displaced populations and displacement sites. The site facilitators, who have all been trained in Camp Coordination & Camp Management (CCCM) principles, visit selected sites in Bangui on a weekly basis to assess and report on numbers, needs per sector, population profile and migration intentions, and the presence of services and humanitarian actors on the respective sites.
Through the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) – a tracking and monitoring tool developed by IOM to account for the situation and needs of displaced populations in many countries across the world – site facilitators collect information in a consistent, regular and methodic way that allows capturing important trends and analyzing information over time. In CAR, this is currently being done on a bi-monthly basis. The information is then shared regularly with the Government and the humanitarian community through various information products such as the weekly reports on the needs referred to the Clusters and the return intention surveys.
page 5
DISPLACEMENT TRACKING MATRIX (DTM)
DISPLACEMENT TRACKING MATRIX IN BANGUI
November 2014
2. METHODOLOGY As part of the DTM methodology, IOM profiles on a bi-monthly basis the population displaced across sites in Bangui, gathering not only demographic information, but also information on the living conditions during displacement and the return or relocation intentions. During November 2014, IOM conducted household interviews among 309 IDP households at 29 out of 37 IDP sites in Bangui. The sample has been calculated based on the overall population residing on collective IDP sites with a margin of error of 5.5% and a level of confidence of 95%. The table below shows the number of interviews conducted per site and by location.
SSID
Name of site
BGI_S001 BGI_S002 BGI_S009 BGI_S011 BGI_S015 BGI_S017 BGI_S020 BGI_S029 BGI_S030 BGI_S034 BGI_S038 BGI_S039 BGI_S041 BGI_S044 BGI_S045 BGI_S059 BGI_S067 BGI_S068 BGI_S079 BGI_S080 BGI_S083 BGI_S098 BGI_S102 BGI_S103 BGI_S044 BGI_S104 BGI_S111 Total
Bangui International Airport M’Poko Communaute des Apôtres de Jesus Crucifié/Centre de Sante Padre Pio Don Bosco / Damala Eglise des Frères Castors Eglise Notre de Dame de Fatima Faculte de Theologie (FATEB) Grand séminaire St Marc de Bimbo Mission Carmel Paroisse St Charles Luanga Paroisse St Trinité des Castors St Antoine de Padoue St Jean de Galabadja St Joseph Mukassa St Jacques de Kpetene St Michel de Bazanga Mosquée Centrale St Sauveur Centre Jean 23 Maison Micheline Pere Combonien / St Joseph de Bimbo Eglise Evangelique Lutherienne Capucin Complexe Scolaire Adentiste Complexe Pédagogique Bethanie Saint Jacques de Kpetene Sanctuaire de Ben-Zvi Saint Paul de Chartres
page 6
Interviews conducted 12 12 12 12 13 12 12 12 12 12 6 12 8 11 12 12 12 5 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 309
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
3. POPULATION PROFILE The population sample that was interviewed has been for the most part (80%) living in a condition of displacement for 10 months or more, while living conditions on the sites continue to be a major source of concern. While 82% of IDPs envision leaving their site of displacement in the next months (with a 63% preference for return to the place of origin versus 19% preference for relocation), the primary obstacles preventing people from returning to their homes of origin remain security concerns and looting of their personal belongings and property. Primary needs to facilitate return are financial means (particularly for renters) and home repairs (particularly for home owners), while the overall conditions to allow return are security, shelter and the availability of services and assistance in the neighborhood. While perceptions about the availability of services in the neighborhoods are slightly improving, displacement is perceived as a major factor impacting families’ livelihoods and their future capacity to provide for themselves by resuming economic activities. Most of the respondents’ former livelihoods were focused on the retail and agricultural sectors, while during displacement coping mechanisms continue to focus on household food security. The most affected neighborhoods remain the 3rd, the 5th and the 6th districts in Bangui, as well as Bimbo ‘2’ and ‘4’. These are also the preferred areas of return and relocation.
3A. DEMOGRAPHIC DATA To collect information on the profiles of IDPs, 309 household interviews were conducted, each representing a household for a total of 2,177 people (average family size being 7). As shown in Chart 1, 71% of the surveyed participants were women and 29% were men. This is in line with the trend observed in the past few months by site facilitators of men leaving the sites during the day to return to their neighborhood and house or pursue a livelihood activity while the women and children mostly stay on the site. Respondents were aged as follows: 1825 years old (12%), 26-40 years old (38%), 41-60 years old (43%) and 61-80 years old (7%), while 90% reported being the head of household. 1. Participants by gender
Men 29%
Wome n 71%
2. Participants by age
41-60 years old 43%
61-80 years old 7% 18-25 years old 12%
3. Head of household or other family member
Head of Househ old 90%
Others 10%
26-40 years old 38%
3B. CONDITIONS OF DISPLACEMENT This section looks at the profile and the survival mechanisms of the displaced populations. According to the surveys conducted across 29 sites, 80% of the IDP population has been living for 10 months or more on the sites. page 7
DISPLACEMENT TRACKING MATRIX IN BANGUI
November 2014
As shown in Chart 4, among those interviewed, the majority of IDPs (72%) left their place of origin in December 2013 followed by 6% in January 2014, 3% in February and between 1% and 3% for the months of March through September. Another wave of displacement was observed in October 2014 as a result of a sudden upsurge in violence, as reflected by 5% of the interviewed.
4. Month of displacement 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
72%
6%
2%
3%
3%
3%
2%
1%
1%
1%
1%
5%
83% of the IDPs interviewed said they come from Bangui, followed by 8% from Begoua, 4% from Bimbo and 3% from other areas.
Ombella Ombella Ombella Bangui Mpoko Mpoko Mpoko Ouham Others
5. Place of origin of IDPs
Others
2%
Bossangoa
1%
Boali
1%
Bimbo
5%
Bimbo 2
8%
Bangui
84% 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
While IDPs tend to move in and out of their displacement sites during day time to visit their neighborhoods or to go to work, movements between displacement sites are not as common. According to the survey, 84% of the population is stationary at the first place of displacement and 16% responded that they have been at other sites before, which represents an increase of 6 percentage points compared to September. The reasons for this trend include IDP relocations undertaken in support of the reopening of schools for the new school year as well as new displacements in October as a result of renewed violence in parts of Bangui. page 8
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
6. Movements across displacement sites
16% Yes, this is my first place of displacement
No, I was been to another site before 84%
The three primary reasons for displacement are all linked to security: 95% reporting insecurity in the place of origin, 85% violent attacks in the neighborhood or village, and 78% reporting lootings of personal and household belongings. Physical threat was one of the main factors for 62% of respondents and damage to houses for 49%. Inter-communal conflict and disruption of community networks were also cited reasons leading to displacement for 39% to 43% of the respondents, respectively. 7. Reason/s for displacement - % of respondents (multiple answers)
2% 3%
1.0% Insecurity at the place of origin
31%
Looting
90%
43%
Attacks on neignbors House burnt/damaged Physiccal threat
45%
Intercommunal conflict
78% 48%
Departures by neighbours Departures by family members Forced to leave
51%
72%
Economic Reasons Other reasons
As in previous surveys, the general living conditions at IDP sites are the main problem confronted by IDPs (85%). This is followed by access to food (66%), economic vulnerability (46%), lack of work (42%) and insecurity (32%). The rainy season is a concern for 27% of the surveyed population whose conditions are worsened by leaking shelters and muddy grounds. Access to education has become a concern for a higher number of people (41% against 22% in the previous survey) than in the past months. Respondents gave an average of 5 different factors each.
page 9
DISPLACEMENT TRACKING MATRIX IN BANGUI
Access to water Interruption of humanitary aid Shelters Site closure Hostility from the host community Violence Identity document theft Hygien sanitation problem Theft
November 2014
8. Problems encountered at the displacement site - % of respondents (muliple answers)
0% 3% 4% 4% 5% 6% 9% 11% 14%
Family bound broken
25% 27%
Rain Insecurity
37% 41% 42% 46%
Access to education Lack of work Economic vulnerability Access to food
66% 85%
Living conditions
3C. RETURN OR RELOCATION INTENTIONS This section explores the intentions of the displaced populations to return or relocate away from displacement sites. The percentage of IDPs surveyed planning to leave the site of displacement in the next month is 82% (against 91% in the previous survey), while 18% envision staying on (only 7% in the previous survey). 9. Do you intend to leave the site in the next 4 weeks? I want to stay on site I want to go back to my place of origin I want to move to a new region
10. Why leaving the site for a new area? No Lost family economic ties means 8% 6% Services 1%
18%
19%
Bad memory of the area of origin 33%
Security 52%
63%
Home owners account for 70% of the population interviewed, while renters represent 26%. In the previous survey in September 2014, house owners represented 58% of the surveyed population. For home owners the re-establishment of security in their neighborhood and rehabilitation of their property would represent concrete steps towards relocation. For renters, access to sufficient financial means would allow them to secure a rental solution, putting an end to their displacement.
page 10
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
11. Status of housing or land tenure prior to displacement Renting
26%
Host families
Owner
3%
70%
The following chart shows the prefecture of origin and the prefecture of intended return or relocation of the population interviewed. The majority of respondents (84%) come originally from Bangui, but a lesser percentage (77%) wishes to return there, indicating that at least 7% of those from Bangui wish to relocate to alternative areas. In turn, Ombella M`Poko was indicated as place of origin by 14% of the respondents, yet indicated as preferred place of return or relocation by 16%. Other locations attract 2% more of the people that are not originally from that area. 12. Prefecture of origin vs prefecture of return 84%
Prefecture of origin
77%
Prefecture of return
16%
14% Bangui
Ombella Mpoko
1%
1%
1%
Ouham
3%
Others
Provided that the majority of the IDPs interviewed favor return to the place of origin over relocation, it is interesting to take a more granular look at where people come from within Bangui and Bimbo to see if this preference is true also at district level. The following graph illustrates the main areas of origin and return or relocation by district. The answers provided show that the areas that were most affected by displacement are the 3rd, the 5th and the 6th district, along with Bimbo ‘2’ and ‘4’, and these are also, to a lesser extent, the areas of preferred return or relocation. 13. District of origin vs district of return 59%
District of origin
District of return
45%
17% 0% 1% 1
5%
0% 2
12%
1% 1% 3
4
5
7% 10%
6
0% 1%
1% 4%
0% 1%
7
8
Bimbo
8% 7% 1% 1%
3% 5%
Bimbo 2 Bimbo 3 Bimbo 4
Arrondissements of Bangui and Bimbo
3D. OBSTACLES TO RETURN OR RELOCATION With 82% of the IDP population intending to leave their displacement sites within a month, site facilitators enquired about the main obstacles preventing such movements at the time of the interview. For 66% of the people surveyed the main issue is the lack of financial means and having lost their belongings (64%). Lack of page 11
DISPLACEMENT TRACKING MATRIX IN BANGUI
November 2014
presence of state authorities and rule of law as well as general insecurity in the neighborhood remain obstacles for 53% and 48% of respondents, respectively. The destruction of their home represents an obstacle for 41% of the surveyed population (55% in the previous survey). Having lost the security of the savings was reported by 39% of IDPs as a factor preventing an end to their displacement. Expectations of support by international organizations are reported by 19% (26% in the previous survey) of the interviewed. 250
205 200
14. Reasons for not returning to home community - (multiple answers)
198 163
148
150
126
121
100
58 50
3
3
0
The two main conditions that would allow return or relocation are the provision of financial assistance to the IDPs (51%) and the provision of housing support (27%). Improvements in security conditions at the place of return would be the main need to facilitate the return of 15% of the surveyed IDPs. 15. Primary needs to facilitate return or relocation 60.00% 50.97% 50.00% 40.00% 26.62%
30.00% 20.00%
14.61%
10.00%
3.25%
2.27%
1.95%
Non-food items
Psychosocial support
Income source
0.00% Financial means
Adequate Shelter
Security
All IDPs interviewed were asked by site facilitators about the general conditions in their neighborhood. 84% of the population reported damages to houses versus 13% who reported that houses were in good conditions. 40% of the IDPs surveyed indicated that markets have reopened in their neighborhoods, while 58% say that they had not. The perception over health centers is slightly more positive, with 53% of respondents indicating that health centers are open versus 46% indicating that they were not operational. The perception about the presence of civil servants has actually worsened, with 44% indicating that they are back on duty compared to 54% in the previous survey. page 12
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
16. Services that need to be in place 350 300
7 36
250 200
23
30
39
3
5
10 39
141 178
140
132
Don't know
245 150
No
50
255
225
100
136
133
Yes
161 122
54 0 National International security forces security forces patroling patroling
Schools are open
Civil servants Health centers are back on are open duty
Markets are open
Houses are repaired
As in previous periods, return and relocation are tightly linked to security-related conditions. In particular, 77% would potentially leave the displacement sites upon return of rule of law in the neighborhood of return. Similarly, 70% will wait for the return of patrols by security forces in their streets. Following security conditions, people interviewed identify house repair (46%), and access to basic services (31%) as enabling conditions to return. Another interesting point from this survey is the fact that the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections planned for 2015 appear to have become a condition of return for 46% of the IDPs surveyed. 17. Conditions to be in place enabling return 300 250 200
239 216 171 141
150
133 106
100
96
50 10 0 Return of law Security forces My house is or and order in my are patrolling will be repaired neighbourhood regularly
Presidential election is taken place
Gunshots are First Access to basic not longer aid/support is services is heard at night available in my ensured neighborhood
Other conditions
As security remains a major concern for the population, respondents were asked what they would consider as a sign of ‘effective re-establishment of security’. The majority named the disarmament of the Ex-Seleka (88%) and the Anti-Balaka (86%), which shows that there is a shared belief that having armed groups in town, whatever their ideals are, is a threat to general security. The presence of national police forces is quoted as sign of stability by 79%. A visible return of the Central African Armed Forces (Forces ArmĂŠes Centrafricaines / FACA) would give confidence to an equal 79% of the people interviewed. page 13
DISPLACEMENT TRACKING MATRIX IN BANGUI
November 2014
A substantial return of people from the neighborhood and ‘not hearing gunshots at night’ are significant indicators for 79% and 76% of the respondents, respectively. Only 2% believe that security will never be reestablished. Security will never be re-established International military forces have left Muslims are back in the neighbourhood The organization of election Christians are back in the neighbourhood The state is reinforced Retablishment of justice End of impunity Cessation of hostilities Sangaris is patroling MINUSCA is patroling I am free to move around I don't hear shooting in my neighborhood Police is present Massive return of poeple in my neighborhood FACA is present Anti-Balaka is disarmed Seleka is disarmed
5 8 25 32
18. Signs that security has been re-established
71 121 128 139 162 193 215 216 235 245 245 245 265 273 0
50
100
150
200
250
300
3E. LIVELIHOOD AND COPING MECHANISMS Displacement is not only an emergency condition, but it is also a development obstacle as it influences the long term stability of individuals or families through chronic lack of security, economic vulnerability and by impacting the capacity of IDPs to provide for themselves and their dependents. In particular, the large majority (94%) of the surveyed IDPs affirmed that displacement impacted their economic activities. 19. Impact of displacement on economic activities
No 6% Yes 94%
As shown in graph 20, most of the respondents’ livelihoods were generated before the crisis by trading food and non-food items, working in the agricultural sector or as daily workers. It is to be noted that the majority of people provided multiple answers to this question (457 answers for 309 individuals interviewed), highlighting that even before the crisis diversification of economic activity was common practice.
page 14
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
20. Professional or livelihood activities before the crisis - % of respondents (multiple answers) 65%
24%
Retail of food products
22%
Retail of Nonfood products
14%
Agriculture activities
Dailyworker
10% Service
6%
4%
4%
1%
Aritisanal activities
Civil servant
Professional activities
Mining
When asked about confidence in their ability to restore economic activities, respondents were almost equally divided between those optimistic and those who didn`t see this possible. In percentages, men are slightly more optimistic that women about the recovery of economic activities (see chart 21). 21. Do you think that you can go back to the livelihood you had before the crisis?
Men
47%
53% No
Women
Yes
56%
44%
IDPs were then asked about the main obstacles for resuming economic activity and the main issues reported are the loss of means and tools to undertake their professional activity (37%) followed by the inability to replenish stocks (35%). Business closure, risk of being looted, physical disability, and unemployment are a concern for between 6 and 10% of the people interviewed.
22. Obstacles to resuming economic activities post-return Absence of legal certainty 0
308
Non-payment of salaries 1
307
General lack of employment
18
290
Physical disability due to the conflict
20
288 Yes
Risk of looting/theft
27
281
Business closure
32
276
Inability to replenish stocks Loss of means/tools for eonomic activity
194
114 0
page 15
202
107
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
No
DISPLACEMENT TRACKING MATRIX IN BANGUI
November 2014
The tendency that has been observed since June of tapping into food security as a survival mechanism has been confirmed also in the September survey. Priority is given to the reduction of food consumption over the selling of belongings, the ability to purchase on credit and family separation.
23. Suvival mechanisms - % of rrespondents (multiple answers) 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
94%
94%
94% 85% 67%
66%
39%
33%
29% 21%
%
The majority of IDPs interviewed reported reducing the number of meals per day (98% compared to 94% in the previous survey), reducing the family food consumption (96%) and reducing the adults’ food consumption to feed children (93%). Another common practice is that of spending an entire day without eating (80%). Surviving on food donations and selling of belongings to purchase food are identified as coping mechanisms by 51% (67% in the previous survey) and 65% of the population, respectively.
4. CONCLUSIONS & OUTLOOK One year following some of the worst violence that the people of the Central African Republic ever had to experience is it possible to give a cautiously optimistic outlook. However, as the months of August and October have proven, the balance may tip fast and without advance warning towards a return to hostilities. As this survey shows, some of the factors determining IDP return continue to improve and underline the overall declining trend in internal displacement. However, the Transitional Government and the International Community will continue to face serious challenges in ensuring that the needs of the remaining IDPs are adequately addressed, while pressures for hasty solutions to specific problems require mitigation and the constructive discussion of realistic solutions for the short- to medium-term. In 2015, DTM reports will expand their scope towards assessing the situation and needs in host communities in greater detail, in order to provide a more adequate picture of assistance requirements that will impact on their absorptive capacities to support continued returns.
page 16
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
CONTACTS International Organization for Migration (IOM): Maeve O’Donnell, Protection Officer modonell@iom.int Torsten Haschenz, Chief of Mission thaschenz@iom.int CCCM Cluster Sahdia Khan, Interim CCCM Coordinator khansah@unhcr.org Commission on Population Movement (CMP) Jean Laurent Martin, Information Manager martin@unhcr.org,
For consulting previous IOM information management products: www.carresponse.iom.int
page 17
DISPLACEMENT TRACKING MATRIX IN BANGUI
The Displacement Tracking Matrix activities are funded by:
page 18
November 2014