The operation will include "securing roads and main routes to allow people to be able to at least go to the hospital," he said.
The United Nations had approved French intervention through resolution 2127 on Thursday, giving the former colonial rulers authority to send 600 troops to back up an African force of around 2,500.
France already has 600 soldiers in the country.
It will be France's second military intervention in Africa this year, after President Francois Hollande sent more than 4,000 troops to oust Islamist rebels in control of northern Mali in January.
But speaking after Thursday's UN vote, Mr Hollande said that the operation in the CAR would be limited, with the aim of handing over to national forces as soon as possible.
On Friday he was holding a summit in Paris with 54 African leaders, which would discuss trade, protecting endangered species and sustainable development.
But the CAR featured highly on the agenda.
Ahead of the meeting, French officials said one of the goals of the summit is for Paris to shed its image as Africa's policeman and that Mr Hollande would tell African leaders they must ensure security themselves on the continent.
"It is up to Africans to take responsibility for their own security," said Laurent Fabius, French foreign minister, on the eve of the summit.
"Unfortunately many of these countries do not have the necessary forces and the African continent has not yet organised itself to have a common force," he said.
But France is hardly retreating from Africa.
Of about 7,500 French soldiers deployed overseas as of December 1, more than 5,300 were at a string of bases across western and central Africa, according to defence ministry figures.
Running costs have been put at 400 million euros (£335m) per year and rising.
The United Nations had approved French intervention through resolution 2127 on Thursday, giving the former colonial rulers authority to send 600 troops to back up an African force of around 2,500.
France already has 600 soldiers in the country.
It will be France's second military intervention in Africa this year, after President Francois Hollande sent more than 4,000 troops to oust Islamist rebels in control of northern Mali in January.
But speaking after Thursday's UN vote, Mr Hollande said that the operation in the CAR would be limited, with the aim of handing over to national forces as soon as possible.
On Friday he was holding a summit in Paris with 54 African leaders, which would discuss trade, protecting endangered species and sustainable development.
But the CAR featured highly on the agenda.
Ahead of the meeting, French officials said one of the goals of the summit is for Paris to shed its image as Africa's policeman and that Mr Hollande would tell African leaders they must ensure security themselves on the continent.
"It is up to Africans to take responsibility for their own security," said Laurent Fabius, French foreign minister, on the eve of the summit.
"Unfortunately many of these countries do not have the necessary forces and the African continent has not yet organised itself to have a common force," he said.
But France is hardly retreating from Africa.
Of about 7,500 French soldiers deployed overseas as of December 1, more than 5,300 were at a string of bases across western and central Africa, according to defence ministry figures.
Running costs have been put at 400 million euros (£335m) per year and rising.