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| May 18, 2008 |
Dear Friends,I am in the Northeast of the Central African Republic. Before I describe the events of the last few days I should first give you a few statistics.
CAR is one of the most desperately poor countries in the world. 67% of the population are living on less than a dollar a day.
The life expectancy here was 43 in 2003. It has to be a great deal lower now since the worst of the violence began in 2005.
The life expectancy here was 43 in 2003. It has to be a great deal lower now since the worst of the violence began in 2005.
300,000 people have been forced to flee from their homes.
The infant mortality rate is 132 per 1000 births.
There are 4.3 million people in a country the size of France and Belgium combined.
There is one flight to Europe per week. NO internal flights. Few roads. Millions have no access to clean drinking water. Most water pumps were destroyed or have broken down. 75% of the population have no access to sanitation (toilets of any kind).
Only 1.45% of the government budget is spent on education. Same on health care. This is 50% less than the average for an African nation.
The educational system in the north has vanished- schools and books were destroyed. Teachers disappeared. Only emergency education exists-this is implemented by aid workers. Most of the teachers are parents.
There are just 7 gas stations in the entire country outside of Bangui, the capital. Aid delivery is a constant challenge.
There was once a functioning country here but since the late 1990s the main income generating crops, cotton and coffee, are down about 90%.
I am in Sam Ouandjo.In the northeast.
More later . No time.
The infant mortality rate is 132 per 1000 births.
There are 4.3 million people in a country the size of France and Belgium combined.
There is one flight to Europe per week. NO internal flights. Few roads. Millions have no access to clean drinking water. Most water pumps were destroyed or have broken down. 75% of the population have no access to sanitation (toilets of any kind).
Only 1.45% of the government budget is spent on education. Same on health care. This is 50% less than the average for an African nation.
The educational system in the north has vanished- schools and books were destroyed. Teachers disappeared. Only emergency education exists-this is implemented by aid workers. Most of the teachers are parents.
There are just 7 gas stations in the entire country outside of Bangui, the capital. Aid delivery is a constant challenge.
There was once a functioning country here but since the late 1990s the main income generating crops, cotton and coffee, are down about 90%.
I am in Sam Ouandjo.In the northeast.
More later . No time.