Norwegian Refugee Council Press Release - For immediate release

GENEVA, 28 October 2003 - The 200,000 people who still remain displaced in
the Central African Republic after a coup d'etat in March face serious
food shortages, according to a report released today by the Global IDP
Project of the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Food production was severely disrupted during the six-month fighting that
preceded the coup. Despite an appeal issued by the United Nations and
first reports of children dying as a result of the emerging food crisis,
there has been hardly any response from international donors so far, the
report says.

"This epitomizes a situation in which the Central African Republic, having
suffered decades of coups, instability and misrule, remains one of the
least funded countries in the region", stresses the report.

Up to 300,000 people were uprooted by widespread human rights violations
accompanying the fighting between government forces and rebels that
culminated in the overthrow of President Ange-Felix Patassé in March 2003.
Half a year later, some 200,000, mostly originating from strongholds of
the former President, still remain displaced inside the country. Fear of
reprisals by the new authorities, as well as raids by armed bandits
operating in a general state of lawlessness, prevent them from returning
to their homes.

To prevent a famine in the Central African Republic, which would have
devastating effects on the country's vulnerable displaced population,
international humanitarian assistance is needed urgently. The report
points out that lack of international funding, particularly through the
international monetary institutions, already was a key factor in sparking
the armed conflict that led to the current humanitarian crisis.

The full report is available at www.idpproject.org

The Geneva-based Global IDP Project, established by the Norwegian Refugee
Council at the request of the United Nations, is the leading international
body monitoring internal displacement worldwide.