Farrow: Central African Republic is failed state

GENEVA — UNICEF goodwill ambassador Mia Farrow described Central African Republic as a failed state on the verge of genocide on Thursday.

The actress and activist, who has just returned from a weeklong trip to the country, described the government as “useless” and said the world isn’t paying enough attention. She said she believes “the seeds are present for a genocide,” echoing the assessment of U.N. officials.

“It’s an abandoned population, because the world has looked away,” she told reporters at the United Nations’ European headquarters in Geneva.

Farrow showed pictures she took of children’s drawings of gunmen shooting people, reflecting the lawlessness and massacre of civilians that she says particularly affects women and children.

U.N. officials say the nation, one of the world’s poorest with a long history of chaos and coups, has been collapsing since rebel groups joined forces to overthrow the president in March and put their leader in charge.

Farrow said it will take high-level intervention and a larger U.N.-authorized force with a stronger mandate to rein in the chaos.

“When you see a failed state in that region it’s a calling card to extremist groups,” she said.

Farrow previously visited the country representing the U.N. children’s agency in 2007 and 2008.

RELATED STORIES:

Why is the Philippines poor?

Passport delays