1. Bandits-no political agenda. Pillage, rape, kidnap, murder throughout CAR.


2. Rebels:
   APRD -(Armee Populaire pour le Restoration de la Democracie) - they are active in the northwest, attacked the town of Paoua. The government is attempting dialogue with this group. Their position has been anti government.
   FDPC-Front Democratique pour le People Committee.
   UFDR (Union des Forces Democratique pour le Rassemblement) -a pro government rebel group.
   FACA Forces Armee Central Africa-the army.
   Tora Bora- Sudanese poachers.
   Poachers-in the southwest-they come heavily armed, often on camels from neighboring countries and kill animals. They kill at least one elephant per week. They also rape and steal.
   Guarde Presidential- victims have told me they are responsible for brutal attacks.
   Chadian Bandits -they come from Chad to rape, steal and kill.
   LRA- new players in the CAR- Joseph Kony and the Lords Resistance Army has recently moved from DRC into OBO, an area in the southeast . They are known for their extreme savagery . Recently they kidnapped at least 300 children.


3. The VICTIMS-the civilian population of CAR . Often they don't know who attacked them. 300,000 are currently displaced and many have been living in the bush for two years or more.

When I was here last year there were just two aid organizations working in a very limited capacity in this tormented region-MSF (from Holland and France) and Coopi-an Italian group.

Today there are 23 humanitarian agencies. This has made an ENORMOUS difference. Food is being delivered to many areas and some 'bush schools' have been set up for the people who are living in the countryside (bush).
There is a peace dialogue scheduled for June between the government and all rebel groups.

But the security situation here is very fragile. All of the northeast and much of the northwest is at "Phase 4" . Stage 5 is evacuation time.