Denmark has become the first country to support the six-point UN initiative in the Central African Republic (CAR) that was revealed by the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, last week.

The development minister, Mogens Jensen (S), said in a statement that Denmark is prepared to offer ten million kroner in development aid to an African nation that is staring in the face of ethnic and religious genocide.

“The situation in the country is catastrophic for the civilian population and there is an urgent need for support from the international community,” Jensen said in a press release. “The Danish support will contribute to UN efforts to allow politicians and policemen to be capable of restoring law and order as soon as possible.”

CAR has been enveloped in violence since the Muslim-backed Séléka group took control of Bangui in March 2013 and deposed the nation’s Christian president, François Bozizé.

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700,000 people displaced
The crisis in CAR has been categorised as one of the most serious ongoing crises in the world, and its entire population of 4.6 million people is believed to have been affected by the situation.

At least 2,000 people have been killed and around 700,000 people have been displaced since December, with many taking refuge in the capital of Bangui. A further 290,000 refugees have already fled to neighbouring nations. As things stand in the country, for many there is no access to the most vital of needs such as clean water and basic sanitation.

“The humanitarian and security situation is very critical,” Jensen said. "There is an acute need for humanitarian help and to protect the civilian population in a conflict brimming with ethnic and religious violence, impunity and gross violations of human rights."

Denmark already supports the aid work in the troubled nation to the tune of 36 million kroner.