Number of displaced in CAR doubles
11 Jan BBC
The number of internally displaced people in the Central African
Republic (CAR) has more than doubled to 935,000 since December, the UN
says.
Around 500,000 have fled their homes in the capital Bangui alone -
almost half the city's population. Some 60% of those displaced are
children. The UN also warned the escalating violence was hampering
efforts to reach “those in need of urgent assistance”.The conflict has
pitted Christian and Muslim militias against each other.The CAR is ruled
by Muslim ex-rebel leader Michel Djotodia who seized power last March,
forcing then-President Francois Bozize, who came from the majority
Christian population, to flee into exile.
The African Union has sent nearly 4,000 troops while France, the
former colonial power, has also deployed 1,600 soldiers there.Many
foreign governments have begun to evacuate their citizens.The UN's
refugee agency warned the delivery of aid relief was being “severely
limited” by attacks on civilians, looting and the presence of armed
militia at refugee camps.“Our staff report that people are hiding in the
bush, fearing fresh attacks,” the agency said in a statement.
It said the number of people sheltering at a makeshift camp at Bangui
airport had doubled to around 100,000 over the last week.The UN said
additional and more effective troops were needed as a matter of urgency.
French and African Union troops at the airport have been unable to
provide sufficient protection for aid deliveries to be flown out to
surrounding areas.The UN is seeking $152m (£92m) for a 100-day emergency
plan to tackle the humanitarian crisis.Medecins Sans Frontieres, the
only medical provider at the Bangui airport camp, confirmed it had been
forced to drastically reduce its activities there following two days of
shooting, which killed two children and wounded dozens of people.
The charity said it was now treating only the most severe cases. |