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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%"><b style><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA"><span style> </span><span style> </span><span style> </span>May 2013</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%"><b style><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA">PHM SOLIDARITY
STATEMENT: </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%"><b style><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA">THE DETERIORATION OF
THE HEALTH SITUATION WITHIN THE CENTRAL
AFRICA REPUBLIC</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA">The <a href="http://www.phmovement.org/">People's Health Movement</a>
(PHM), a global network bringing together grassroots activists, civil society
organizations, academics and health workers from around the world, is deeply
concerned at the deterioration of the health situation within the Central
Africa Republic (CAR). The conflict between rebels and government has resulted
in the breakdown of law and order, resulting in a health crisis characterised
by looting and destruction of health facilities and food stocks by rebels and
armed bandits and treatment interruptions with the potential increased risk of
diseases to people of CAR. PHM stands in solidarity with the 4.6million people
of CAR who are affected and calls on all civil society organisations to stand
in solidarity and extend support to the citizens of CAR wherever possible. We
call on all parties involved in the conflict (rebels, government forces and
armed bandits) for an immediate end to the conflict. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial;color:#292929;background:white" lang="EN-ZA">“The breakdown of law and order has
led to widespread violations of human rights including targeted killings,
rapes, torture, arbitrary arrests and the recruitment of child soldiers. Since
December, more than 173,000 people have been internally displaced and 49,000
have sought asylum in neighbouring countries. Even before this crisis, 3.2
million people in the CAR had no access to healthcare and some 80,000 people were
at risk of severe food insecurity; these figures will increase. Almost all
public schools are closed.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://www.hdptcar.net/documents/emergency-relief-coordinator%E2%80%99s-key-messages-central-african-republic-6-may-2013-%C2%B7-issue">http://www.hdptcar.net/documents/emergency-relief-coordinator%E2%80%99s-key-messages-central-african-republic-6-may-2013-%C2%B7-issue</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA">For these reasons PHM:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.5in;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol" lang="EN-ZA"><span style>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA">Condemns the attacks on medical facilities (looting and destruction of
health facilities) and all perpetrators involved in these lootings</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol" lang="EN-ZA"><span style>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA">Expresses solidarity with all the people of CAR and health activists who
are trying to perform their duties in the most difficult conditions and render
medical services to the civilian population in need.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA">We therefore:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol" lang="EN-ZA"><span style>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA">Urge all civil society organisations working within CAR and
internationally to give support in their different capacities to alleviate the
health crisis </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol;color:black" lang="EN-ZA"><span style>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial;color:black" lang="EN-ZA">Call on the CAR authorities and all parties to respect
the Geneva Convention and other relevant instruments of international law
regarding the protection of medical personnel and facilities and access to
health services for the population. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol;color:black" lang="EN-ZA"><span style>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial;color:black" lang="EN-ZA">We also urge the AU , UN and other relevant National
and international<span style> </span>actors to take
immediate steps to ensure that all parties find an amicable solution to this
conflict and respect unconditionally the relevant instruments of international
law regarding the protection of medical personnel , health facilities<span style> </span>and access to health services by the
population.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA">Our thoughts are with people of Central Africa
Republic and civil
society working tirelessly to improve the situation.<span style> </span>We stand in solidarity, recognize and
appreciate all efforts made by organisations (local and international) and
local health justice activists who often work with little institutional or
infrastructural support to highlight the crisis and efforts to improve it.</span></p>
<div style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;border:none;padding:0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA">PHM also is concerned about and calls for an
immediate end to conflict in many African countries such as Eastern Congo and Mali which has
resulted in the deterioration of the health situation and human rights
violations.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;border:none;padding:0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;border:none;padding:0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA">Rudolf Abugnaba-Abanga (Ghana- West and
Central Africa), David Sanders (South Africa- East and Southern Africa), Linda
Mashingaidze</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph;line-height:115%;border:none;padding:0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-ZA">On Behalf of the People’s Health Movement
Global Steering Council</span></p>
</div>
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