The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has transferred cash to vulnerable families with children with disability in Central African Republic (CAR).

The funds, provided by the European Union (EU) Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) and the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is expected to help children living with disabilities return to school.

‘UNICEF provides cash transfers to ease financial burdens on vulnerable families with children with disability…and make sure all children can reach their full potential’, UNICEF said in a tweet.

Data from Global Citizen shows that people living with disabilities (PWDs) in CAR face violent attacks and lack access to education with very few children enrolled in schools in displacement camps.

Additional data from the Human Rights Watch (HRW) shows that very few children with disabilities are enrolled in schools in displacement camps across the country.

UNICEF, in the tweet, noted that 65 percent of PWDs in the CAR are not educated.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) also noted that CAR’s educational policy does not have an explicit definition of inclusive education.

CAR has suffered waves of violence and armed conflicts since 2002, with numerous crimes under international law and other serious violations and abuses of human rights being committed with impunity.

These crimes against humanity were committed especially in the 2002–2003 conflict between troops of the former President Ange-Félix Patassé and armed groups headed by François Bozizé.

Photo source: UNICEF CAR