It is hard to overestimate the need and the complexity of the problems challenging the Central African Republic. Even before the current crisis, the republic was essentially a failed state. The landlocked nation ranks 180 out of 187 nations on the U.N.\u2019s Human Development Index, and Transparency International scores it as among the world\u2019s most corrupt nations. These dismal assessments will likely become even worse next year as the disorder and violence continue. Now the nation\u2019s transitional government is threatened not only by a potential resurgence of the Seleka but by the continuing interest of the ousted Boziz\u00c3\u00a9 in a return to power.<\/p>\n
The Central African Republic has become a nation of people in flight. The United Nations reports that 570,000 are internally displaced and another 356,000 have fled as refugees into neighboring countries. Altogether somewhere in the vicinity of 2.6 million people in the republic are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. These are remarkable figures for a nation of no more than 4.6 million people.<\/p>\n
Worse yet, that humanitarian aid will have to be delivered in the coming weeks during the rainy season\u201d\u201dwhen bush trails to the most vulnerable hamlets will become largely impassable\u201d\u201dand during a time when the once-routed Seleka rebels seem ready to launch a new bid for power.<\/p>\n