The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) was activated in December 2013 in response to the escalating crisis. The recent escalation of violence in CAR in late 2018 has brought the country towards the brink of a new, large-scale humanitarian crisis, increasing the protection risks in multiple new hotspots across the country.

A protection crisis erupted in the Central African Republic (CAR) at the end of 2013 resulting in severe violence and widespread displacement. The collapse of state, law and order and public services further exacerbated the situation. Since then, the country has remained extremely volatile. Over five years after the beginning of the conflict, the humanitarian situation remains critical leaving 2.5 million people, over half the population, in urgent need of assistance.

A data connectivity solution – deployed by ETC partners Ericsson Response and Government of Luxembourg emergency.lu – has been deployed in Batangafo in the Central African Republic (CAR), providing critical communication services to humanitarians operating within an area of escalating conflict, displacement and need.