GENEVA, Switzerland, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- The Central African Republic is on the verge of collapse because the conflict is being ignored, a U.N. envoy on human rights said.
The British government this week said it would distribute emergency financial assistance to CAR as it estimates the entire population of 4.6 million people is in need of some form of humanitarian aid.
U.N. Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic said, however, the situation in CAR has been largely ignored by the international community and the press. He said the chaotic situation in CAR affects all aspects of people's daily lives.
"Beyond Bangui [the nation's capital], there is no police, no justice system and no social services," he said in a statement. "Security is virtually non-existent and people live in constant fear."
Simonovic returned to Geneva following a four-day visit to CAR. He said the security system collapsed and the interim administration was in a fragile state following a March coup by the rebel Seleka coalition.
He said the country is on the verge of collapse as the security situation is compounded by the lack of food and an outbreak of malaria.
"Disarmament, integration and joint training of a limited number of vetted elements of both former security forces and Seleka, excluding perpetrators of human rights violations, is the way forward," he said. "However, it does not resolve the problem of the current security vacuum."
