a framework that arguably says if there is no collection we don't have any benefits for the consumers and the way that information is either collected or created. as a good example, we have some very strong walls about how the health information will be used collected and used for the providers that work with them. the other entities that are really in the health care system consumers are going online and investigating what does it mean if my skin is itchy does this mean i have a condition or my kid has been up for five nights and i don't know if that is a fluke or the cold.

tommy something about diabetes in the early onset or heart conditions. people are doing so much online that gets identified with them personally and so should that information be collected, should it be collected that consumers may have a health condition simply because they inquire about an issue and acquiring the speech curiosity it may be school project, but just in today's wall street journal for instance, we saw the reference to companies that are gathering that information and using it to find out if consumers might be interested in participating in clinical trials. now, the clinical trials are an incredibly important function in the united states and has incredible benefits for consumers and health care and doctors and providers and pharmaceutical companies to understand what works and what doesn't work on an evidence

basis. but consumers are kind of shocked when they are called off and asked would you like to participate in the diabetes trial and they don't have the condition or asking about this when they have no connection and that entity cities are some deep and important issues that we need to think about how this information is collected or frankly even corrected. some of the entities that are hanging on to this information that have certain health conditions based on the restaurants that they go to, the way they shop the clothes they wear, things like that which apparently you know maybe 80% of cases, 85% of cases, 95% or what not may indicate that consumer has a different condition that it isn't always going to be true and even if it is true, should the entity is be able to meet these conditions,

these predictions about health conditions collect that information and hold onto it in an identifiable way? i think these are some questions that we need to drill down into. i don't think that we are yet >> we haven't touched your problem which is if we stop the collection all of these benefits are going to go away. i think we need to look at the type of collection that is going on and the creation of the predictions about consumers for the purpose of profiling that is going on and figure out whether we think this is appropriate or not. >> i thought we would come back to that but if you want to ask your question, and then i thought because we started out with you talking about your being optimistic and about the conversations with europe going in the right direction and one of the things we like to do at the roundtable is break down the silos between people who think

about the internet and the economy and the foreign policy and i should add a trade policy as well. they do not talk to each other and so i think after your question maybe we can get back to what is it that the people from the trade world who are not in the privacy and the internet world can take back knowing that it is improved in this conversation can take back being able to say this is where the u.s. is of course strong and then if you want to make it more poignant go ahead. >> as you know i had an opportunity to observe you and all of your skill sets last week. i want to again for the benefit of all of us here thank you for your leadership and effectively the distinctions between the commercial and national security elements and let me just say i think you did it under very trying circumstances.

>> my own experience in the government and then observing the media, my sense is that the member state level and there is a deep awareness in the distinction between commercial and national security and i am curious from your visits and meetings whether that is the case compared to shall we say other public authorities in europe about that distinction. before you answer i would be hammes since we are on c-span2 kandahar work on the patents and abusive conduct and very pleased to see that the comments so far have been overwhelmingly in support of the new initiatives. >> i'm sorry could you do me a favor? the distinction that you wanted me to -- >> last week as you opened today talked about the distinction between the commercial mashaal security dimensions of the

information flows and the different traditions and legal regimes as well as in europe and whether my sense in the prior experience of that is a distinction that is better appreciated that the member state level than shall we say at other public arena as and whether since the discussion that observation is true or not at the member state level? >> it does appear to be true that national security issues are dealt with at the member state level largely speaking in europe and in my conversations i should have started out by saying thank you for your kind remarks it's very nice of you. so, when i speak to my colleagues at the commission that is the european commission

or the data protection who are not necessarily focused on the national security they recognize that. they recognize what their competency is and isn't and i think they make a fair point and we should keep in mind which is there are some provisions within the safe harbor commission's determination safe harbor was going to be a mechanism that would be allowed to transfer data that talked about there was a national security exception, but it said it's got to be proportionate and it's got to be appropriate. and so there are some tools that they have at the commission level rather than the member state level to look at this issue and what i remind them of is we all need to recognize that and i think that is an important point, but i tell them that in

order to really understand the national security issues at stake, the national security folks need to be at the table and they need to be having a conversation about with them. so i think one of the things that has happened especially over the last three or four months, of whatever it is is the folks at the european of the level and in the community in europe is the data protection article 29 working party and others has had a dialogue here in the united states with some of the people who are focused on security issues and i think that that has alleviated all the concerns but it's helping them understand the breadth of the issues and of the problem without emphasizing again that i do think it's important and

whether or not what is happening now is appropriate and whether or not there are changes that can be made to maintain national security from consumers and citizens and that happens in the transatlantic context to delve into the trade policy or get involved in the negotiations that you haven't been part of that all i just thought that for those of us in the room who are familiar with what is going on in the trade world and those others in the room that understand how the u.s. conversations have turned much more productive on privacy that might make sense to share that information almost sort of a talking point level just that you all could be a little bit better armed.

one. >> but she be identified yourself. [laughter] lost my right to privacy. >> i think it's very important i really thanks for your recognition of the importance of separating at least conceptually the national security from the security issues from the commercial issues and others around the world have different approaches while they may all be consumers process these of data they don't necessarily have the same approaches to privacy. but separate from that, the commissioner has clearly taken the impetus to push that agenda and there are multiple other agendas as i am sure you know,

and whether it is the tax agenda, the digital tax agenda or whether it is the basic rules of competition at the national or the commission resources all these things are pushing up and it's very difficult to operate on just the privacy side alone. and i am heartened to hear that there is an interest and it's absolutely important that all of these be aggregated in the security piece so that you can have that greater conversation because otherwise it is just going to be an nice opportunity for selecting the protections which we start to see as individual european companies have started to take a vintage or look at the revelations as a business opportunity. that was a longwinded question. >> was there a question?

>> what do you think? [laughter] >> why don't we combine the answer to that with any final remarks and then i will just say something about the future roundtable. >> one of the things i found interesting in the european commission report on the safe harbor was the recognition of the value of the data and the economic value, but it was coupled with as i read the latest report it was coupled with a recognition that that value is enhanced by the cross border flows. i have heard of the same things you're talking about, the need to create but i didn't read that in the latest iteration and so what i'm trying to communicate to all the view that are either directly involved in the trade discussions or are

following them very closely is there appears to be an open when though to have a healthy conversation about these cross border data flows. let's not lose this moment. let's understand the moment for what it is and recognize that there is a need to address concerns. national security is happening separately. but on the commercial side in particular what you'd like to see done on the commercial data and believe that site for the moment, too all the way very much believe in that and i think it needs to happen in the united states. the requests that look at 13 or so changes and respond appropriately it's a moment that can be lost from the political

and policy reasons and others that you've identified so let's not lose it estimate obviously that has been a fabulous conversation and i really appreciate everyone that came and especially those that have asked questions and i hope that you don't mind what you have done an amazing job. we want to keep having this exact conversation and so many people are having -- are seeing pieces of this elephant and not only with europe but in the context of internet government and so that we can work productively and i think julie, you've spoken at different times about where we need to do better but also where the u.s. including through the enforcement actions that the ftc is incredibly strong and we have a lot to be proud of and it's

important for us all to realize that as well and that we do have the transparent dialogue going on in the u.s. i hope that you will all take part in them and thank you very much for coming and really, thank you julie fer sharing so many interesting thoughts. [applause] richard baker is the senate historian emeritus and author of the american senate and insider's history. he's the guest today at seven eastern.

i think radio is the best form of medium c-span does the law firm conversation. you and charlie rose will never read books the way if i read books to talk to the author seriously. we don't get many people that have rendered books and know what you're talking about and it's so rewarding to them. i get a great deal of satisfaction when an author says to me the highest compliment that is the best interview i've had on this book tour. if. the things that matter in the collection of essays and things that are autobiographical. there's an abundance in time

the united nations has warned that violence in the central african republic is at risk of spiraling into genocide. they sent 1600 troops to the country in every effort to contain the violence and the african affairs subcommittee recently held a hearing on the situation in the central african republic chris terms chairs the subcommittee. i would like to call this committee to order. on the republican it is a resource rich but desperate country that sadly seldom catches but in the midst of an appalling and a man-made crisis. the violent crisis has a stark reminder of the very human costs and fragile states, weak governments and corruption. to the sobering discussions i'd like to welcome the partner jeff flake of arizona and he brings a commitment to africa and i look

forward to working with him to promote lasting solutions to this complex crisis. i would also like to welcome other members who may be joining us as well as our distinguished witnesses, assistant secretary of state for africa, earl, assistant administrator for the african usaid, alexis analyst at crs medical coordinator and mark schneider, senior vice president of the international crisis group. i look forward to hearing your insight and thank you for being here. the voices must also inform our policy decisions and i am grateful to have recently spoken with central and african officials for a firsthand account that helped inform my perspective while i regret that no leaders or officials could join us today i would like to enter into the record a joint statement from the archbishop imam and reverend nicholas

which who are pictured here. i would also like to enter into the record statements from the relief services and mercy that reflect recommendations on their recent experiences in working car has a long history of conflict and has been the focus of the united nations and regional efforts to promote peace and security but little lasting effect. as difficult as the history has been, the current crisis is far different in terms of its scope and eats the merging of brutality. following the 2013 los coalition of rebels collectively known little more than the transitional government now exists in the already weakened national security forces have nearly disintegrated. the people have been left powerless against a multitude of the violent groups and opportunists many from chad and sudan and motivated swelled the ranks from 4,000 to nearly 20,000 engaging in harvick violence across the country and the local defense groups known have retaliated spurring a vicious cycle of murder, rape

and destruction of property and livelihood. more than half a million for the populations have been displaced and at least half are in the need for the humanitarian assistance but beyond their reach due to the insecurity. we lack of reliable and comprehensive data and the injuries, but the civil society groups on the ground providing a chilling evidence of entire families slashed by perpetrators building machetes, bt's suffering gunshot wounds and the villages burned to the ground. compounding the crisis is a growing into a religious nature of the violence. the rebels are primarily muslim and have reportedly and they are reportedly targeting muslims. civilians are seeking refuge in the churches and mosques and while ethnic divisions are not new, the open and her religious violence significant participation of the foreigners in the attacks and large scale targeting are unprecedented. the risk the increase of the regional spillover and they

create deeper and longer lasting societal divisions. today we will look at how the united states international partners can deepen their engagement to stop the violence prevent this delivery and begin the process of achieving sustainable governments. there are no easy solutions that we cannot stand aside as they are targeted. the recent council decision to impose the embargo created the human rights violations and authorized the french military support to the african led international support mission and it was a welcome and necessary step. it's very helpful to move to the presence and i am interested to hear from witnesses about how the united states can support the multilateral efforts to ensure the troops have the capacity necessary to improve security and end the violence. i look forward to working with the administration and society to ensure we do everything we can to stop this effort and hold perpetrators accountable for their atrocities and help them to build a stable and space future as well. i strongly support ongoing efforts by the administration to increase assistance to the

contrary the company and look forward to hearing from our witnesses about the next steps including the possibility of the u.s. support for the proposed u.n. peacekeeping operation. i'd also enclosing like to thank susan who has served very ably in my office as a brookings state department fellow and who provided much of the leader for this car hearing. and who we will greatly ennis in my office as she returns to the stand for that. i would like to welcome senator flake for his opening statement. estimate mr. chairman, appreciate testimony. i know that you are busy. there is a lot going on. not just in car but in the region as well. so i appreciate having the secretary thomas green field and as a standout minister here and look forward to the testimony and i just want to echo with the chairman said about the importance of our involvement here to present the spillover in the region and the effect that we will deal with for a long time to come. so, i applaud the united nations

for moving expeditiously and for our representation on the action that has been taken and look forward to that testimony and for all of the witnesses in the second panel as well. >> thank you senator flake. i would like to add now if i might from thomas greenfield, we know you have a pressing schedule so we very much look forward to your testimony and the opportunity to question briefly. >> thank you very much chairman coons, ranking member of late and other members for the opportunity to testify before you today on this urgent matter. i very much appreciate your interest and raising the profile of this issue. i submitted a full written testimony to the committee and i would ask that it be entered into the record and i will summarize that testimony here today. we are deeply concerned by the horrific violence across central african republic particularly the increasing sectarian nature of the attack on civilians as

you described. we are working closely with members of the international community to end the violence and restore the security to car. we have condemned the seizure of power and in the campaign of rape, kill did not end pillage and we've warned that the individuals responsible for fuelling and engaging in the human rights violations will be held accountable. ambassador power is delivered the message directly to the transitional president in a telephone conversation on december 7th. on december 5th the united states co-sponsored the u.n. security council resolution 2127 which establishes an arms embargo, sanctions committee and a panel of experts. a commission of inquiry and increase in the human rights monitoring capacity of the u.n. political office. in september we co-sponsored the u.n. human rights council resolution creating an expert position. to immediately stem the

violence, we strongly supported the u.n. security council authorization of a one year chapter 7 mandate for the african union led international stabilization force in the central african republic and for an expanded french troop presence. we believe that working closely with french forces it provides the most immediate mechanism for ending the violence. in addition, we believe the robust stabilization mandate is what is needed now to confront and disarm the group. to give these forces the best chance of success on the ground, we are providing them equipment, strategic airlift and preplanned training. on november 20, secretary carey announced the state department pending congressional notification would provide $40 million in assistance to the troops, troop contributors from existing resources. on december 10th the president delegated authority to secretary carry to direct the drawdown of

up to $60 million in defense articles and services for existing department of defense resources in order to provide immediate military assistance for france, the e.u. and the countries contributing forces. we've already begun utilizing some of the funding to airlift 850 troops in an operation that is scheduled to be completed this week. because of the danger is tension, which effectively reach out to the local radio stations and other media to encourage them to transmit messages from christians as well as muslim religious leaders urging peace and reconciliation. president obama recorded a statement to the people on december 9th and the message has been translated in french and broadcast repeatedly on multiple stations throughout carper and we have heard from the people they've appreciated hearing those messages from the president. we are working hard to respond to the most urgent humanitarian

needs in fy 2013 the u.s. provided more than 24 million in humanitarian assistance with 6.2 million in additional assistance announced in september for the new refugees in neighboring countries. we continue to insist the car transitional government abide by the declaration and the constitution that calls for elections to take place no later than february 2015 and specified that members of the transitional government are ineligible to run. we are deeply concerned that the transitional president has taken steps to consolidate his power by inserting at 5000 fighters into the security forces and by deleting the appointment of independent experts to the national authority. given the situation in central africa republic and the need to see the situation first hand i hope to travel there at some point soon. currently the special adviser is in her car. senator coons ranking member

flake and members of the committee let me assure you that we remain deeply engaged at the highest level with the situation in car. we are working with our international partners to address the crisis and we look forward to keeping you and other members of the committee informed of iraq tiffany's and we look forward to additional support. i am glad to answer any questions that you might have and i look forward again to briefing you on the situation as we continue to get information. >> thank you very much for your personal engaged leadership on this vital issue. assistant administrator? >> chairman coons midranking member thank you for the opportunity to be here before you. i appreciate your involvement in drawing attention to the crisis in the republic and look forward to the continued discussion on the u.s. government engagement. before i begin i would like to draw your attention to this map that is on the screen.

it takes the geography and frequency of the conflict. senators, i would like to introduce a copy of this into the formal record. >> without objection. >> the areas in the northwest have experienced the greatest violence and are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. prodir to the most recent attacks, the eight groups have a very limited presence in those areas and targeted attacks against humanitarian workers have further limited the response capacity. overcoming the operational constraints in these areas will take a significant amount of time and human and financial resources. this is arguably the worst crisis in the history. as of this week 680,000 central africans have fled their homes. that is 150,000 more than that december 9th estimate. moreover in estimated 535 persons have been killed just within the last two weeks due to

the violence. if unaddressed this conflict results and further loss of life and continued political instability threatens to destabilize the entire region. however, we still have a chance to stop it. the united states is playing a role in shaping the international response to the crisis and we are ready to lead additional efforts in the current humanitarian platform. since 2011 we have provided more than $68 million in humanitarian assistance and in 2013 our programs benefited 440,000 central africans in basic nutrition and health protection livelihood, water sanitation and hygiene and agricultural assistance as well as funded the u.n. lit logistics and coordination. ..

this complex and fluid situation requires greater programming options to reach the diverse population. we work with partners trying to balance between it and an assistant into conflict areas and reducing the risk to humanitarian actors and beneficiaries. we are also examining ways to prevent the emergence of new conflict. if the peacekeepers are able to improve the situation, it

increases peacebuilding efforts and religious and community leaders and support radio stations in areas suffering from a lack of information. in the coming months, the international community will have an enormous and challenging role to play in the political transition process. for now, our focus is to reach those in need of it lies. but that the international community's urgent and committed intervention, this already alarming crisis threatened to continue at downward spiral in next and the reach of devastation well beyond the borders. thank you, members of the set committee for assistance and support to the people of the central african republic. i welcome any questions you might have. >> thank you, assistant administrator gast for your effect give engagement and work around the world. i will start what will be seven rounds of questions.

what specific actions can the united states government take next that will help in the humanitarian suffering restore security and move towards a sustainable path of democratic governance. what are the next that we should be taking? >> the most important steps that this depth we take right now to address security issues because of that addressing security issues we bought the able to move forward on addressing the more important human rights issues as well as to humanitarian issues that we are all witnessing and horrified by. so we are working to move as fast as we can to provide air lift and training to the troop contributing countries. as i mentioned we provided that support this week and hopefully they will have about 850. we are working with the french to provide them with additional assist and as well and they didn't offer to contribute.

we can then focus on trying to find a political solution, working to make sure that there is disarmament as well as finding mechanisms to work quiet the various authorities to get them to prepare for the election, which we hope will take place in 2015. >> thank you. since then it ministers are gast, what is the step against the securities utilization? >> security is always first. the security, we will then be able to gain access. the u.n. has taken a very important step just within the last week. that is announcing it has upgraded the emergency attention by declaring it a level three response. at any time in the world, the u.n. can manage only three level

three crises. car would be the third one. syria and philippines being the other two. what that means is they will have a very experienced person at the assistant secretary general level to run the humanitarian operation. it also gives them the ability to tap into emergency response mechanisms and it will also get elevated attention throughout the u.n. we feel that this is critical and we commend the u.n. for taking the action. of course, because the needs are growing, we will need additional resources. we collectively support those people in the. >> let's focus on the u.n. role and work might go in terms of security. what are the funding and policy can iteration the united states is analyzing with respect to potentially train mentioning frame in a year to a u.n. operation and are there lessons learned that are relevant and potentially apply to

peacekeeping? >> the most important lesson for us is we have to act quickly. it doesn't matter whether it did bp kayo in the initial phases. we think right now getting up and running building capacity on the ground is the fastest possible means of addressing security concerns. so we are focusing our attention on getting the contributing countries on the ground, making sure they are well trained well-equipped and then getting them outside of the capital. our view is that if this is successful that is our goal to stop fighting. if it's not successful and were not able to do it then we have to move to a dpko.

but we have now is fast. if we move to a dpko it would take as much to get it on the ground. the u.n. has authority, but in the meantime we are moving forward on the security issues. >> if i write for both of you, two questions. what are the repercussions for regional spillover? order the regional precautions in interests, chat in particular appears to be playing a role that president objectives are clear and chatted to the suspicion. my last question will be what role has the atrocities prevention board played within the u.s. government in terms of elevating the level of focus and priority being paid to the car issues and what does that tell us about the role going forward? >> it is clear that all of the regional neighbors had some

interest. we don't know exactly what those interests are and what role will be playing. chat in particular. many of them are ex-combatants, not necessarily attached to the government. we think the president that he can play a role in monitoring has order and the activities of people crossing the border from chad. again, we have also seen the sum of the truth cannot us again. it is important that it can we control the access across the border into car. that said it is important that the regional partners play a role in finding a solution. both chad as well as congo

brazzaville has played a positive role in addressing the issues, particularly as part of the geneva declaration. so we are hopeful that working with them we can move forward in finding what is going to be a long-term political solution. >> thank you. cincinnati in the street are gast. regional interest >> with regard to spillover effects, one thing we see is an increase in the number of refugees. so those refugees could have a destabilizing effect on other countries and their ability to provide services, even with u.n. support to the people. so right now, the number of refugees from c.a.r. is roughly about 70000. more than half in the drc. but the growing displaced population, as i mentioned crew by more than 100000, 150,000 in the week's time. it could have further

destabilizing effects on other countries. you also center, asked the questions about the atrocities prevention board. perhaps my colleague will say something about that. it is an interagency process. there are 10 or 11 at participating it's a very good way of sharing information and collectively coming up with an understanding of the problem. just trying on the strengths of various agents is father's analytical programming coming up with a comprehensive approach to how we deal with human rights abuses in a trust these. so they've come up with a number of recommendations and as for trying to pursue any additional resources, we are looking at some very. thomas found peacebuilding efforts at the community level getting a permission to communities as well as other peacekeeping duties and that is

from the knowledge and wealth of all the agents is that i've participated in the atrocities prevention board. >> if i can just set reflate that, the atrocities prevention board gave us the tools to come together as an interagency. and in fact gave us a lot of direction as we looked at the humanitarian needs and looked at the situation there. the ap via has been particularly focused of my colleagues mention that communication strategies to ensure that messages that relate to interreligious from the u.s. as well as from voices and c.a.r. as you noted from your videos there and religious leaders are widely disseminated, especially by radio. we looked at all kind of mechanisms. we've used text messaging to the

extent that works in the decision to have the president make a statement that is being widely heard came about as a result of our actions on the atrocities prevention board. >> i'm glad to hear the apv has played a constructive and all government role here than elevating the prices in finding solutions. senator flake. >> thank you, mr. chairman. thank you for your testimony. you mentioned, both of you the first priority is security. arboriculture or anything else in the humanitarian crisis. our ability to help with security they are private think depends on what the players see in the future in the next year. along those lines, some of them raise the question of whether or not the interim president, if he

has any incentive to work towards a democratization elections next year and 2015 if he's not going to be a part of it. that, let's face it has impacts on how willing he is to cooperate. some said he is forced into the agreement by regional powers and others. can we move forward on that a system that security arrangement? is it likely he will be willing he and those around him to step back at that time and to have a secure situation leading up to that time? can you address some of the political pot abilities? >> i think we do question his commitment to honoring the agreement and then at the actions has taken most recently really give us reason to pause. his decision to put in key

locations, his decision not to name the members of the national election board. his decision to fire ministers without altering with the other are all actions they raise for us concerns about his commitment. we are continuing to put pressure on him, to honor the commitments made in the geneva accord. he has been told in no uncertain terms, both when he had his conversation with ambassador powell, but also with the french that he will be held accountable if he does not have the process forward. >> what does that mean? be held accountable to him? >> to the international community for committing gross human rights violations, not contributing to the process that will lead to peace.

i think when we say that, they get the message of what that means. at some point we have to question whether he continues in the role he's playing. i think the international community, along with the regional partners will hold him accountable. >> well, thanks. my concern is ian held accountable for someone who worries about being held accountable after this episode and after the democratic government comes in might be more inclined to try to consolidate his own power. >> equities doing. >> it seems to be so. i'm not saying we are pursuing the wrong policy there at all. it just makes it doubly difficult in the current situation. with regard to the weapons that are there in the task of the peacekeepers now how have weapons proliferated throughout

the country since the two last year and what challenges does at present going forward? are they still come in and? you mention that's one reason we need secure borders. how much of a problem is that? >> is a huge problem. we don't know where the weapons are coming in from. we hope that the panel of experts will give us a name i known where these weapons are coming from. we know they are coming from across the border. who's funding the weapons purchased this is unclear and mrs. sun and we are all trying to get a handle on so again under the u.n. resolution, people can be held accountable for that. >> i know it's not that simple but this alito forces for most of the weapons were the militias on the other hand have been yours. is that a rough estimation quite worried their weapons on each

side? is very big difference in who has the weapons? >> i think there are weapons on both sides. i don't know what the balance is but his french have gone in to disarm, we need to make disarm select a system of the anti-selective people have weapons of have attacked using those weapons. that is something we need to investigate and why it is so important to be on the ground for there to be securities semiconductors as issues. >> the death of two french troops in alaska of weeks how has that affected the french government ability? has a hard and there was all of her has it made the people more skittish about involvement? what is your read their? >> it is hard and they resolve. we regret the death of the french soldiers as well as

congolese soldiers who were killed. it is hard in their resolve to pursue this mission to a positive conclusion. >> back on the humanitarian issues. there's a lot of agriculture being disrupt did. a second administrator gast can you address that? is that some in with what is going on now is there a lag time because certain crops were harvested replanted that were going to have a disaster in the future? i do you address that? is a lot of subsistence agriculture. >> you're right, senator. 55% of gdp comes from agriculture in its largest employer in the country of central africans. we are very turned and we know the violence has broken the traditional cycle of how people get inputs and how they provide the market.

we expect that will be part of the assessment. the gdp is expected to contract by 10% this year as a result of the conflict. we know it's primarily an agricultural sector. >> thank you. tremont >> thank you comest underplay kin. we know you have other pressing commitments. we thank you for your testimony. we look forward to more details about the basis on which we could both stability and transition towards a democratic state in the humanitarian crisis. thank you very much. if you're an object, we will continue to question the administrator. we are at the time when you really needed to leave. you've been able to testify before us today.

administrator gast, following up on the questions that senator flake was asked to are there community-based efforts underway to stop the cycle of intercommunal violence will the humanitarian crisis accelerate further in terms of the security hunger. are we at real risk of this spiraling into germanic literature conflict? >> you're right. we are at risk of spiraling out of control. with your support actually, in the southeastern part of the country, we supported what we call our secure communities program that we are implementing with crs. essentially, these have been affected over a period of years about whether it is a tax on communities, actions of children men living in

communities. it an early warning system as well as provides an early warning system to them to communicate to other communities about threat as well as to the u.n. also it helps draw a plan for the communities to stay safe. also included and not his community-based radio as well as peace messaging so that communities feel safe. we think that it's a good model and something we would like to ask vietnam support in other places. it is absolutely critical. it was supported further development programs in the country. a network of community-based radio stations, because of the violence to strip it many have been looted and are no longer functioning. we hope to reinstate this because they are critical on both the security side as well as the humanitarian side. and humanitarian workers.

>> from the current government transitional authorities are desperate for resources for reconstruction. as long as there's no legitimate government for functioning institutions, major donors are hesitant to commit any significant sum for government operations. how can we break this particular catch-22? what path forward for stabilizing some platform on which to develop a state where at this point there's barely even a government or security function. >> in 2012, it began to take government reforms. some of the reforms were pretty impressive and led to an incredible credit facility on the part of the imf world bank and african development bank provided some lending.

since the change in power, those programs have ended. they are certainly feeling this leaves not having resources. i think there are three steps. one is immediately address the humanitarian crisis. that will continue, but it needs to be addressed. the infrastructure needs to be built. communities need to be stabilized via services need to be provided. the political transition is stated that the transition coming meaning through elections will have to occur by february 2015. that is going to be an enormous challenge. just look at all the things that have to be done from the development of a new constitution, electoral law creating a new and dictation from the national electoral administration, training a photo registry is an enormous task. i don't think the development resources will come in and so we

see the political transition down the road. >> thank you. any further questions? >> assistant administrator gast we are grateful for your testimony today in your intense interest in the region and in this critique other area. if i might just enclosing ask one last question. beyond the humanitarian relief in the establishment security, significant international support for the political institution. what kind of support is usaid in particular covering and where do you see our key allies in terms of joining us in providing essentialist to send and what is the path towards backing sustainable? >> good question senator. we are looking at resources available to support the political transition as well as emergency crisis.

with regard to other donors, ere is a donors conference that's been set up in january. so we see that as an opportunity to identify the need and also take stock of what commitment other donor countries could provide. >> thank you. >> with regard to the mineral extraction, we've seen elsewhere in africa and almost country in china has made moves into that phase. we haven't seen that yet. is that correct? >> we haven't in terms of exports to china or any investment on the part of the chinese. saddam doesn't do either. >> thank you. >> thank you are a much system administrator gast. we are thankful for your service and leadership. for that to make the second panel to join us if we might.

[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> well we'd like to book my second panel to this hearing. firstly here from ms. alexis

arieff come african analyst at the research service. and mark schneider again from the international crisis group. welcome. it's great to have repeat witnesses in a circus this for the first time. >> chairman coons and the ranking member flake. you heard about the evolution of the crisis and acr has submitted a written statement for the record. in my remarks, i want to highlight five key elements of the crisis and conclude to look ahead. first, c.a.r. has experience recurring government in the capital donkey have really controlled vast rural areas are provided services to the population. that said as you mentioned the current situation is not the norm. when i was there in early 2011, the capital and much of the countryside was relatively stable. a peace process with northern

mobile group suggested a more inclusive and sustainable model of governance was possible. over the past year, violence and humanitarian editions have dramatically. a diverse society has also been badly damaged by recent brutal attacks on or religious lines. second, select the factions and protection militias do not have clearly defined memberships are clear of command. the term in fact appear to refer to as the branded franchises rather than clearly structured networks. some factions are likely also be manipulated by political aspirants and ideologues. civilians meanwhile have increasingly taken up arms against each other in a decentralized fashion. the conflict potentially affects the entire population of c.a.r. and could spill over the borders. troubles in a turbulent region surrounding c.a.r. could go into the country. actors have intervened in c.a.r. in search of resources and let the rich.

c.a.r.'s territory has been a destination for readers and posters. chad, sudan, libya and other countries to periodically sake of influence. foreign troops including france and neighboring states have been present for decades in various roles. regional leaders may therefore be driven in part by self-interest. in turn, c.a.r. leaders have appealed to outside forces for protection and advancement of interest. fourth, while selector commanders have shown themselves to be brutal and opportunistic the movement has set an genuine feelings of exclusion and persecution among northeastern population. the northeast is largely in contrast to the rest of the country are muslims are a minority. it's culturally and geographically closer to chatting again. president is c.a.r.'s first muslim president for the northeast. in this context, national identity is contested.

the term foreigners often used by non-muslim inhabited to describe northeastern communities with cross-border ties. international policy may be dynamics so as to avoid creating the perception to men in the and repatriation is condoning the exclusion of four violence against muslims for generations. such perceptions could drive civilians into supporting militia groups or create a narrative of anti-muslim persecution that could reverberate widely. they've come in the planned political transition is safer today is likely to be very challenging. election preparations could be starting from near zero. the president is likely to cling to power. warlords and potential rivals within select a bar unlikely to simply step aside. the balance of power between other figures is uncertain and factional items. the local press has sharp

polarization. some welcome intervention while others are suspicious of regional troops, particularly those from chad this complex history and c.a.r. the crisis in c.a.r. steps on a number of issues in which congress has demonstrated an interest in the year including the ability to central africa and other cross-border criminal activity and the resistance army present in the southeast since 2008. congress may determine the means and duration or any humanitarian aid to sub for an further help for french and african troops deploying their and any future support for elections, border security or accountability national reconciliation. a u.n. peacekeeping operation at authorized would create new u.s. funding requirements and policy consideration. in the longer-term, c.a.r. high security challenges. added to the sour questions about the future seleca

combatants and community some claim to represent. repeated international effort that military intervention commit peacebuilding a security set to reform and c.a.r. has mixed in a well limited effect. finally, an ongoing debate regarding the pros and cons of african diversity and connect to destabilization operation is athletic and neighboring states have a front-line interest in addressing the crisis. militaries are frequently handicapped by lack of capacity in interoperability and political rivalries and competing interests among leaders. they are often better funded and that it then african operations yet slow to materialize more cautious with regard to operations in more costly. the debate is likely to continue at united states considers whether to what extent of further strengthened the au operation in c.a.r. or support any future peacekeeping operations. mr. chairman i'll be happy to answer any questions the committee might have.

.. today the situation is worse by the added of violence in the engagement by the international community including the united states. we regret to import as we did in an open letter to the united nations on december 12th the humanitarian response has been wholly inadequate.

mr. chairman we have two fundamental concerns. first of the lack of assistance in the populations displaced by the ongoing violence in different parts of the country and second the failure to tackle issues that long affected c.a.r.. it comes on the top of emergency characterized by the crippled health care system. these problems must be addressed. as a quick overview we have been working in the country since 1997 running several -- seven medical projects. this year we opened four new emergency products including timberwolves bangee and provided lifesaving emergency care in to hospitals and are providing medical services to approximately 70000 displaced people gathered in three sites. sanitary conditions in the sites are in a word deplorable. many other needs remain unfulfilled including food shelter and protection.

more than 400,000 people are internally displaced throughout the country and roughly 10% of the country's population. about 150,000 are reportedly trapped without access to food, water or health care of. the area where the civilians could be hiding coupled with the overall lack of aid makes it difficult to assess all alone meet the needs. while immediate humanitarian assistance is required, the crisis in the country requires a long-term strategy. c.a.r. ranks among the worst in the world and it has one of the lowest life expectancies of 48 years. 164. i could go on. in the 2011 s a year before the violence retrospect mortality survey revealed their rates well in excess of the emergency thresholds. conditions underground were not

critical enough to warrant the emergency assistance. and now of around 60% has been looted or destroyed and 80% of the health workers have fled their posts. 90% of the medical structures ran out of drugs and we are facing a crisis on top of a crisis. the operational goal was to support the ministry and has held the reason has collapsed and now still many of the ministries functioned and we see the massive prevalent in mortality attributed to the preventable treated diseases. in c.a.r. every individual of the population is infected with malaria at least once a year. it's the country's main killer. people displaced are at risk of the greater exposure to malaria and in the early 2013, we observe an increase for children under five of 46%. as well it has the highest prevalence in central africa

approximately 45000 people require the antiretroviral therapy but only one-third of those received treatment and least 11,000 hiv-positive people have experienced treatment interruption and times of developing the antiretroviral. equal alarm is the state of immunization programs which is always been poor particularly in the rural areas. allow me to of illustrate the situation from my experience. roughly 40,000 displaced persons are living in the catholic mission compound too terrified to return to their homes. they are far below the minimum emergency standards and as of last week the individuals will provide only 7.8 liters of water per day. they have the standard settings. emergency humanitarian response entails risk. but it demonstrated that international staff appointments is indeed feasible.

it's often necessary. the lack of the skills medical personnel available in the cia are -- c.a.r. and the violence has prompted us to increase the international staff in a country. throughout 2013, the teams never fully evacuated the project site and on the contrary, we expanded our presence in the most vulnerable areas of the country. all of the humanitarian organizations experienced the security incident. yet the humanitarian end. it shouldn't be in subservient to the security concerns. in our view of the security assessments are disproportionate to the field realities. the levels of the funding for the humanitarian activities also reflected the lack of attention paid and as of december 6, 2013 the major donors for the humanitarian funding and the european commissioner in the united states government for individually contributing less than the total 2013 operational

budget for the c.a.r. that amounts to $37 million worth. the product challenges facing c.a.r. can't be overcome by the humanitarian assistance alone. we wish to recommend the following. first, humanitarian agencies must scale of intervention and remote areas and respond to increasing the needs including the space populations -- misplaced populations. they must have activities as many of the aides rely on them to provide an operational umbrella second the immediate support must be provided to the severely disrupted public health system finally the humanitarian funds must be raised and adapted to those short and long-term needs as the country think you mr. chairman. i am happy to take your questions. we would now like to turn to market the international crisis

group. >> think you mr. chairman let me express appreciation through their group to you and the ranking member and the subcommittee for focusing attention on the humanitarian and political disaster in the situation and the central african republic is identified over the years correct governance, discriminatory distribution and public services and plundering of the mineral wells and abusive and often brutal security forces as the root causes of conflict. our analysts left this weekend but what will be returning shortly. i think it's important to recognize that this crisis has been building for decades and unfortunately no one has been paying enough attention. the country's socio-economic indicators are the worst in africa. let me give you to indicators of the failure of the focus of international community. you heard the life expectancy last year was estimated between 48 to 49 years.

in 1990, life expectancy was estimated at 48 years. in 1980, gdp per capita was estimated at $963. in the 2012, the gdp per capita was estimated at $722. that reflects just the failure of the development and essentially the corrupt management of the government. today, the central african republic is a collapsed state with more than as you heard 613,000 internally displaced persons, including almost a quarter of the capitol city's population and wild you heard in the recent months we have seen an additional 70000 refugees going to the neighboring countries in fact there are some 230,000 total your refugees in the countries and the neighboring countries. and virtually all of the displaced are hiding or makeshift camps with little or no security, water, food or

shelter. they fled the sectarian of atrocities and the potential for the killing demands that we ask what more can be done and how can it be done faster and who can do eight. we can think the government for deploying the rescue forces of the 1600's troops in the recent days and the realities of the community is woefully slow to respond to the signs of the rising insecurity and a growing religious tensions between the christian and muslim communities and the stalled political transitions. the state rarely seen beyond now is vanished in the capitol with ministries and courts as you've heard the description of the health is the same description of every other ministry and as it is diluted the ministers and public service of either split or are in hiding and essentially they have no state functioning.

in the recent days as you know they've gone on the door to door killing spree is spawning the cycle of retaliation in which the civilian muslims suspected of being close to silica have been targeted some massacres. the residents of flood in the churches and mosques and orphanages the percentage rates. we describe the three potential the immediate scenarios. first a continuation of the war and the massacres despite the presence of the french troops and afford to be deployed to be the second is a stalemate in much the bulk of the enforcement remains outside and the major threat in the city comes from the forces and we believe they will be rather quickly neutralized by the french. third and probably the best scenario is the decision by the forced to leave and return to the provinces and the parallel decision by the fighters to return to the barracks and to

participate in the program. each of these scenarios will affect the prospect of ending the crisis. however in every case we believe the following three actions are immediately necessary and first restore law and order or the very least stability in the priority with disarming and the groups protecting the idp centers and assuring the humanitarian access the second to reestablish law and order where the religious clashes have already been reported extending the order beyond the northwest to secure the main economic corridors and began with the premier ortiz of the humanitarian protection access to the if there is to ensure that those responsible for the international peace enforcement and peacekeeping forces are very tightly coordinated and for the resources rapidly deployed and complemented by the rapid installation of the combined international police.

of the u.s. as you know has begun to support the military deployment in the planning. what's critical is the u.s. continued to cooperate to ensure the peacekeeping mission and there is ultimately the u.n. peacekeeping mission of reflects the right balance in terms of national troop contributors religion and skill sets particularly the police engineers and medical units. but also emphasize that we would urge the u.s. to encourage the u.n. to accelerate its current timeline for assessing the conditions on the ground and the adequacy of existing the peacekeeping force to make recommendations in the security council on the need for the u.n.. its mandate how what will build the forces and also of what and also maintain an appropriate commitment to what ever comes next even if the troops are blue helmand and finally we have to

raise questions about the capacity and there already been the to peacekeeping forces in 2010 was criticized for the lack of resources by what has recently expanded mandate it is under resources and has two people working. it has four people responsible for the human rights laundering investigation and documentation simply inadequate. there are five additional steps we believe in the midterm and the u.s. should support them all. obviously the ddr process and the reconciliation of the community level and activities in the social cohesion and peacebuilding. a third is to investigate and document and hold accountable those responsible for the atrocities that have taken place. fourth is undertaken the inquiry which is called for in the security council resolution into the illegal exploitation of diamonds, gold and other minerals for two reasons.

the financing of the other illegal forces and it also gives you one way to begin to get the state resources revenues back into the government and finally kick starting the economic recovery the u.s. should support these efforts directly through the state department and through the world bank the african development bank and the u.n. and you have heard it is considering a humanitarian relief. we also think that it should consider what it would take to open up the embassy once again and what is the protection that it needs to provide. if the u.s. is going to play political bullet has to be on the ground. i think that is part of the effort to prepare for the upcoming meeting in the beginning of february. there needs to be an honest review of what has failed over the past decades in the development and security in order to begin to build a level that will have a possibility of

success. thank you mr. chairman. >> one of the things that has failed and that review is the entire mechanism described how the health ministry has almost completely failed to function and you described how all of the other basics have largely ceased to exist. some have been suggested that the state is so completely broken that the external actors will have to perform another is in the treasury functions for the health functions and that we are a long way from having anything like the basic framework in the state how would you imagine that playing out and you mentioned in passing that the office is dramatically in the resource and the political transition mandate to you mentioned the french forces and they are potentially in the central role securing the

quarters providing basic security and policing functions. exactly how do you see this moving forward and rebuilding the essence of the state and stabilizing the situation what is the most important contribution that we could make a crossed lacrosse? >> it is to provide security. you can't begin to build the other elements of tell you have adequate security and begin the disarmament process in the forces. i think the french are beginning to do that and hopefully together, by the way it means to grow from where it's supposed to ask two days from now what will exist, it doesn't exist now and they've committed a 3600 of which thousand should be policed then in paris they agreed to go to 6,000 but they don't have them. you need to get the forces on the ground, the plate and get

the control over the other major cities. that has to be done. in parallel to it, it does seem to me that the international community at this conference means to begin to look at what the transitional structure would be in terms of assisting in a parallel way the provision of services, relief, humanitarian concerns at the same time began to build back each sector in the state capacity to and i do mean begin to build back because it simply does not exist and if you have a security, some of those people would come back in each ministry and if you had at you have to have a structure that i believe the ulin together with international donors will have to put together. >> are there individuals or civil society leaders or other religious leaders that could promote the reconciliation that would move beyond the current crisis domestically in concert with the international effort

and forces that mr. schneider is speaking to the? >> i think there certainly are and as you have identified and the state department has identified, there are religious community leaders in c.a.r. who are already on their own initiative attempting to pass messages of reconciliation and peace building and trying to calm down the interim religious tensions. the leaders with whom you've yourself have spoken and represent the main tree organized religious communities, the protestant community and the muslim community that's already an incredible start. is that enough? probably not enough to reach all of the populations that are affected by the current filings and in fact in the last few weeks as the violence has increased or in early december we found a very worrying pattern in which they were threatening some of these religious leaders and in one case according to the news reports that intervene to

sort of protect one the country's muslim community leader who would. so that is certainly worrying and more broadly the civil society groups have historically been quite weak in terms of capacity and unity. so that is also sort of a larger challenge. i think that as we look forward international policy makers may want to ensure the national level reconciliation and accountability efforts to. they are complemented by the reconciliation will and certainly there are national level contests over the state power and national identity access to resources that are playing out that as we have seen in other conflicts and in the c.a. are -- to c.a.r., they're using the national level of this order to settle their scores and act in a very local level. >> you describe the state of the

chronic emergency where the underlying health indicators are the very bottom in some of the worst conditions in the continent and the wide scale infection with malaria and hiv/aids rate suggest there is a significant medical leave before the collapse to. so first we need to scale up the services to those areas in the camps and the reestablishment of the ministry. what lessons are there that we can learn from the comparable crisis whether in somalia or the with drc and how to rebuild the services that have at this point on almost all? >> one of the most important aspects first is to engage people from all sides were within the conflict and make sure that you have everybody on board with that goal.

it will continue to a tricky situation as we move further along the. and as i said before we were trying to support the ministry of health and now in the current situation, we are basically substituting. and at the moment, we need more factors, more action meaningful action to substitute those surfaces until we can help and support the ministries to get back to a proper level of functioning of where they can all only participate to take on more and more responsibility. >> and the issued an open letter and that was also reflected in the testimony very critical of the response how long it's taken and last week the interagency standing committee as it was referenced by the secretary elevated the emergency level at

number three. will that trigger the kind of response that has been lacking and will not move the u.s. entity in fact i will ask all three of you. well that - the focus and the attention on the scene of in order to deliver the resources that are needed? >> i hope so. up to this point there has been some high level people are writing. about what we needed was very quick immediate action and we needed to kind of free look at how we do the security analysis because i think that's been one of the major hindrances for a lot of actors who rely on the funding mooncalf click to be active in areas and towns and it's been very disproportionate to the reality. so yes i hope so but it needs to be quick and meaningful action. >> if i might briefly mr. snyder

and then turn it over to the senator. >> very briefly because i am sure that he's more of an expert on the humanitarian side than i am but the humanitarian agencies to have a presence on the ground for their strategic planning process the recently released a new strategic plan for c.a.r. in line with this new designation. one of the agencies are likely to bring greater resources and coordination capacity tabare in the coming months any other humanitarian workers to face challenges including security threats and a very uncertain political environment. on top of that as it has been mentioned the government is basically incapable of providing any leadership or coordination on the humanitarian response and that differs even from other similarly poor weakened states and africa. >> if i could the amount that was requested last friday i

guess is when the strategic plan was issued was to under $47 million clearly that is a major increase appeal from the u.n. humanitarian support. i guess i would have one cautionary note. i would argue if everything that is done with respect to the humanitarian assistance if they are going to do it over the period of year fine. three to five-year program, then i think they need -- everything needs to have an element of how do we rebuild functioning public services, how do we assist local government and national government so that at the end of the process there is something there that is sustainable. and i would add one other point which is i think that the determination of how you move from where we are to a functioning state is one that is going to require the continuing

full engagement of the international community u.n. come e.u. and the united states. >> thank you mr. senator and the entire panel. >> you said in your testimony that the humanitarian response has been wholly inadequate. is it a matter of the amount of resources in the dollar figure or the deployment in what we are doing with it that is more of a problem or both? >> i say that it's both. the deployment of people is the problem and that at this type of a crisis you need experienced people who are familiar with conflict situations. who are not afraid to go out and go into the areas in that way. so it isn't just a number of people deployed but it is the number of experience of people who are deployed.

and as well the funding has been low. for instance the are working with a very few other actors where we are finding that the needs are completely overwhelming. and msf isn't normally taking the lead in the sanitation for instance but there that has in one of our main activities because it has been so urgent to get that addressed. >> what is the level of doctors without borders how many individuals do you have in the country? ..

and how well does need to be addressed with any future cover? >> i think that goes to the heart of the matter of the conflict in c.a.r. is acknowledging underway grievances that in some cases whether or not subside leaders have been a political adhesion. certainly one that arose out of the vent in 2012, it's your wad long-standing division in the country between the mostly most

of arabic speaking culturally distinct from the rest of c.a.r. and government from the west of the country have further entrench the isolation and lack of envelopment on a comparative level given the broader lack of development in the country. a relative lack of development in the northeast and infrastructure even by c.a.r. standards and as well as the cents a night many northerners that they are treated as foreigners within what they see as their own country. there are populations that move among those countries, chat c.a.r. at again which makes it difficult to pin down nationality and a western passport kerry says. that's why challenge looking at this crisis. they're also broader grievances among the farmer government that were widely shared even beyond

the northeast that had to do it an increasingly authoritarian style of government and narrowly ethically-based government in senior military ranks. what was seen by many as c.a.r. inhabitants as an abusive regime. i think seleca came out of the overlapping of the north-south divide place just a broader sense of disenchantment with the government on top of that. you had a disenchantment a neighboring state to admit that it accordingly in terms of their willingness or lack thereof to stop a bad seizure of power. >> mr. schneider what incentive is there? is there sufficient incentive or the interim press event and people around him to create conditions conducive to democratic prospects in 2015?

go ahead and answer that. >> i think first it's going to be difficult to follow and implement the transition political roadmap that has been read to by all sources as the recent outbreak of violence. you have a national transition council, which is to act as the legislature of those who had fled. the president has failed to name the electoral body that has to be put in place. it's going to take a substantially longer time. the effort needs to continue to press the president to carry out an slightly delay all of those steps. what are the incentives? in this state it seems to be from assistant secretary was to indicate that if he continues to be if not cooperative, failing

to take action and he also will be held accountable. i think it is clear that with the french on the ground, with international forces on the ground, that becomes a real possibility. there also has to be some care it. i think they are the incentive is he in those around him to follow the roadmap would have a significant part of the next government in a fair way that they've never had in the past with the northeast and muslim community are essentially excluded. that is really the carriage available to them if he does in fact go along with the roadmap. i would just make one other point, which is that too many of the seleka military leadership previously had a role in chad or that to be disregarded when you look at what kind of military force can help move the process

forward it to be clear that there also has been a diplomatic settlement to whatever we call ddr so that those who in fact had national origin part of the military need to be cooperate without effort. >> thank you senator flake. >> chairman coons, let me thank you for having this hearing. i appreciate the witnesses that are here. the circus dances in the central african republic are dire. he pointed out the usaid numbers are internally displaced. around a quarter was insecure. has that been made and safety of

ngos to operate is questioned whereupon many have left. the first question i have is we want to do some pain. bucolic knowledge the challenge of getting help to the people who need it. they certainly the political issues we have to deal with. in the meantime, people are investors or can dances. so if you had to advise their committee as to what you would put on a short list that could effectively help people who are in dire need today what would you make your top priorities? >> all started to send. the top priority is ensuring protection inhumane carrion access to those humanitarian agencies can reach the people in need. both en banc we have protection for every one of the 40 or so. >> how do you provide that

protection? >> you get the african union forces with the french on the ground fully deployed, fully equipped faster and you also deploy them with the mandate and the other cities to protect those humanitarian centers. that seems to me is number one. >> anyone else want to add to that list? >> i agree security is important. if you ask people they would say that is what they wanted for security so they could get back to their lives. >> at security for the people. we understand that. we are talking about getting humanitarian aid effectively deliver. we know about ngos they can't operate because of the security issues. you effectively protect the domestic populations is a separate issue, very important

issue. don't get me wrong. but the more challenging solution. >> i think you need more experience people who have worked in such complex situations. nfs has never evacuated many teams before, during or to recent conflicts be an that should not be a precondition to have ideal security for humanitarian aid to be delivered. we've managed that throughout the past years. that's important, but you need it. it's people willing who understand complex situation and found inadequate pay so that these organizations can scale up. >> as an analyst come i hate to list priorities for you senators. i would note in addition to what

is unsaid, do you make a dirt in the media and run the clr and infrastructure will be major challenges in providing humanitarian relief in the short run, but also the longer run. >> is there any policy the united states is currently supporting the you believe is counterproductive to the helping humanitarian needs? >> saverio then the agency that were confident. that can be defined. they have people on the ground. there's a small political mission on the ground.

there's an embassy that has better information to assess where it is we can make a difference. >> let me ask one question about gender violence. do any of you have direct information to the status of gender violence activities in the vulnerability of children? >> well, i don't have any absolute statistics. from the time our symbols and go out, we have many stories especially women and gender violence. there were even several homes where they would be a mama taking care of 10 15 women who had been briefed. women are afraid to move out and

they never go alone. probably offer services then there is treatment available immediately afterwards people are not always access and not out of fear or they don't know about it or they can't reach. it is our belief that there is significant gender violence happening that we don't hear about. >> just to add to that statistics we are confronting, anecdotally there were reports of gender-based violence, which was also a feature of past during the north of the value thousand five to 2007. in terms of violence against children there's concern of child recruitment into various insurgent militias herself defense groups geared >> all that underscores the point you made about having better information. there's so many issues around the world.

when you don't have good information, sometimes you just don't know and don't act. knowing what is happening on the ground would help us galvanize more effective international policies that could provide not only safety for the ngo community, the safety for the people in the country. thank you again, mr. chairman. >> thank you senator. a few more questions. as the instability in c.a.r. effected the long-term counter lrh mission? and is it possible the operations could either reinforce or conflict at the end of your last answer you reference the soldiers in the south and southeast portion of c.a.r. has suffered. i wonder i see this affecting the ongoing work. >> absolutely. certainly there is a short-term impact on u.s. supported ugandan

operations against the dollar rate. earlier this year there was a cessation of ugandan operations and of related u.s. support efforts for several because of the security situation but also the political uncertainty about the new government and donkey after seleka takeover and what their approach would be on foreign troops on the c.a.r. soil the african union led in discussing with the new government, the current transitional government how important omission wasn't eventually got a great night for the u.s. supported operations to continue. certainly, from my understanding, operations are ongoing as we speak. on the other hand, we've seen indications from nongovernmental reporting that al ra leaders may be located in c.a.r. even today.

it remains a safe haven for them and the mice. we've also seen a new pattern where al ra attacks have been further north and west then they were operating in c.a.r. whether that suggests that lra may be operating beyond the bounds were ugandan troops can operate in the long run is somewhat uncertain. in terms of coordination with other african union troops, he is a very important point. there is now attention paid to the need to coordinate between ms. gaia as mr. snyder mentioned won't be operational until her say. between the troops and what is called the african union regional task force, the ugandan led operation. that is something of a work in progress but certainly international experts are looking at the question. >> recently the idea he was

floating for his surrender. did did that prevent you have any substance? >> is hard to evaluate what was exactly happening during that period. the state department publicly stated that they could not or would not confirm coney was actually in communication. it seems more likely that a band of lra combatants had gotten into contact with others in the c.a.r. government and eventually the u.n. that they they were not necessarily the group that coney is currently located with. it certainly raises questions about whether other elements could use this line of communication to negotiate greater space or resources that could allow them to prolong their existence or re-up their ranks as they had done during previous peace talks during the

process prior to 2008. i haven't seen reports to indicate that has been the case, but certainly they did reportedly receive some aid through that communication. at the same time there was a major ugandan operation that netted a number of defections that key lra leaders and that is significant within c.a.r. as well. >> this relationship nor dean had a mess if i'm not a state can former security minister has been running torture centers and engaging in murders and killings. is he a figure we should be particularly focused on i'm concerned about? are there other strongmen or regional leaders who have the potential to really accelerate the violence of mass atrocities? >> you are right to focus on hand. he is one of the individuals mr. snyder mentioned ours is seated at chadian rebel groups, but also served in the chadian

army at one point. he was in a number of recruitments in the transitional government. he is seen in the region as a strong man and as you mentioned, responsible reportedly for parallel detention systems or other abuses associated with the transitional government. he is one of several seleka linked figures involved in those activities. we can only hope future human rights reporting by u.n. agencies and others, but also monitoring by the new sanctions committee might reveal -- may shed greater light on the role that other actors are playing. >> you mentioned at the outset, one of the real challenges is the anti-the latter groups are loosely organized, no clear chains of command. some of the background suggests

a militia groups air force base. is the former president plan to roll and how do you see the political trajectory in terms of point apart the forces and continuing to some stabilization is mr. schneider mentioned. we've got three outcomes. only one of those things vaguely appealing and requires areas and murky political figures to reduce the engagement and violence. >> that's correct. the anti-palatka groups emerge within the last several months since mid-2013, seemingly initially as a semi-spontaneous reaction to violence against civilians. particularly in reaction to a perception among christian communities that seleka commanders in the field were targeting christian communities

disproportionately and reportedly or allegedly protect a muslim community they did so. even though the origin of this loose network that individual anti-palatka groups may have little to do with one another, at the same time especially during the assault on december 5th it seemed for news reports in report on the ground as some factions who attacked the capital were supplying relatively sophisticated armaments were acting in a relatively strategically communicated fashion. i'm not along with other governments that some factions may be coordinating with military elements who seek the return for event receiving support from outside the region among purely to to speculate among individuals who are angry at chadian influence the 18

month rate. it is very unclear right now with the status of this chance of coordination are and it's always possible that anti-transfer groups are posturing support for the former president in the hopes that if he did return he would award them in some way not because there's coordination. we don't really know enough right now to make a determination. >> i think it goes beyond that. some of the groups that have theaters who are former military -- security forces with president bush cc in the past that were identified. >> @night, my time has come to an end. i'm grateful for the testimony. oscar senator flake has any testimonies. he suggested that north-south divide here. there are several other countries that have also had stability issues, development

issues humanitarian issues in central africa in west africa are the same long-standing grievances ultimately led to the collapse of the government or regional challenges. my hope is there a lessons learned by the american atrocities board and the united nations. i'd like to thank ms. alexis arieff for reasons issues at the two think the ongoing crisis. in each of you for your hard work. >> thank you. just a couple questions. mr. schneider, the countries in the region, i know there are chadian forces and extra governmental actors and play. governments themselves, are the universally playing a constructive role to governments in the region? or things have broken down in the past year have we seen certain government pushing for an outcome that we don't want?

>> i mean, the problem is several governments have conflicting interests, both political and economic. >> are there some who figured the benefit of ongoing chaos? >> with identified the chad particularly has been engaged in different ways it's not fully cooperative or constructive. that's why the effort has been to ensure that chadian government understand they are going to be viewed over the next several months in terms of how they respond to the current price is and they expect dean ben to play a much more positive role in the future. i should also mention some of them are ready has several citizens in border clashes, in

the area where it's seleka is not across the order. >> there's concern about south sudan in the events the past couple of days. >> one last question. in terms of disarming some of the groups, seleka in the anti-bileca anti-machete, a lot of the weapons used are machetes. how far did the ceramic co.? are they disarming groups of machetes? >> initially be offered as to ensure groups that men cannot move through moglia rather cities where they carried ak-47s are machetes. whatever weapons they have to take away from. after that, the effort will be

to go after the guns that are stuck piled in different places. i suspect the last step will be the effort to try to ensure that populations, which have acquired weapons that they give incentives to give them up. let me just make one point. when it concerns concerns we have is this will be the fifth ddr process and the central african republic. what we would argue is what's occurred in the past is simply an effort to say okay, going to a camp. you get identified kerr-mcgee mobilized many transfer and become a part of the army. that would be a big mistake in this situation, to simply try and integrate seleka for spaceport anti-trans or into the future army a central african

republic. what has to happen is people need to think through what you do with most of these young men who have no opportunities and to look for come in our view starve a something that community-based labor-intensive reconstruction efforts as a way to transition into civilian life as opposed to thinking they'll be independent effort. >> in terms of the questions, i think your question is very pertinent. french troops have said -- french officials have said or groups are going to disarm anyone in public spaces who is not part of the african union force are part of the central african republic for police. that is a very tall order and in one of heiress of this country we talk about communities armed either for hunting or self

protection or other activities are just out of a sense of security for generations, including authorities know what the dream are machetes that might not be obvious or easy to find. it is certainly an enormous challenge moving forward. >> i went to thank our second panel for her hard work making sure this committee understand the dynamics in sub-saharan africa. i want to thank you for your great testimony today on developing humanitarian crisis. we will let the record open until tonight to ensure it is part of the record for tomorrow. i'm grateful for your service and testimony here today. thank you. we'd like to invite the panel of four nominees from best tutorial pose to now come forward. we are going to take a few minutes break while we

transition to the next. [inaudible conversations] >> we started down the road to put "ebony & ivy" together. >> guest: it's a long story i can make sure. i've been moving from one job to another. i just finished a book project and i started out on what i thought was going to be a simple

book, a simple article. i was going to explain how black abolitionist and were excluded by race from american colleges. some of them went up to new england and studied privately. and they became ministers and teachers and doctors. but in fact one of the things that got more interested in was why they were excluded. these colleges in fact had a long history with black people on campus as enslaved people but not his students. they also had a long history with native americans and at the very time the black students were excluded, native americans had been on campus for 200 years. >> host: native american students at band camp is doing

what? how is it that they were able to be on campus is quiet >> guest: that's the beginning of the book. the first attempt to build the college from native american students is about 200 tenures for the first attempt to build the black college. the first native american graduate graduates almost 200 years or for the black graduate. the first native minister, 100 years before the first black minister. that sounds like native americans are privileged. in fact part of the story the book is it is precisely the role of the university and conquest. it is precisely the role and colonialism that explains the early presence of native students on campus and precisely that will expand to universities turned to the slave trade to fund their enterprise.

>> now a discussion on u.s. saudi relations and how the relationship has effected by the series of awards and iran's nuclear program. will you from academics who study the middle east and a former deputy national security adviser to george w. bush. from the hudson institute, this is an hour and a half. >> we are going to go for about a hour and a half year. we are going to speak for about 45 minutes to an hour and then we'll open it at the end for questions and