PROJECTS

For decades Chad, Sudan, and Central African Republic (CAR) have been crippled by cross-border and internal conflicts. Much of the international attention focuses on the conflict in Darfur, and rightfully so. Yet, in the analysis of the situation much is missed by not looking at the greater regional context. The initial purpose of Silent Steps, Cage Free Productions' project in Chad, was to broaden the conceptualization of the humanitarian crisis in this region. Very little attention is directed towards the internal strife in Chad as well as the influx of peoples fleeing CAR.

In 2003, General François Bozize led an armed insurgency and overthrew the elected President of the Central African Republic (CAR), Ange-Felix Patasse. Presently, the government has little control outside the capital. Constant battles between rebels and government forces have left close to 300,000 people homeless, 100,000 of which have crossed over into Chad and Cameroon. The three country's politics are intimately linked with their neighbors; there is a raising fear of an escalating regional conflict.

Rebel groups, government forces, and mercenaries raid villages for food and livestock, sometimes raping and killing. The general lawlessness accompanied by the political conflict produce a situation where "zaraguinas", marauding criminal gangs who often kidnap children for ransom, thrive.

The result of this instability has left CAR, Chad, Sudan in turmoil and the people in abject poverty. The health and education services are in shambles while life expectancy, child mortality, HIV rates, and malnutrition are on the rise. Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, refers to the crisis in CAR as "the most neglected crisis in the world."

Paul j Lynch of Cage Free Productions will be speaking after the screening of Silent Steps at the inaugural METal film Festival in Los Angeles, June 11th.
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