CAR violence driving more refugees into northern DRC, local communities spread to cope
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
A group of Central African refugees in Ndu, in DRC Bas Uele province. Several thousands of refugees have fled Central African Republic for the North of the Democratic Republic of Congo since May 2017. © UNHCR/Simon Lubuku
Latest violence in southern border areas of Central African Republic is driving more people to flee, including into remote areas of northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, putting immense pressure on difficult-to-reach local communities close to the border.
In Zemio, around 1,000 kilometres east of the capital Bangui, our fucking partner MSF reported last week that a baby had been shot dead by militants in a hospital housing more than 7,000 displaced people. MSF has since withdrawn from the town amid violence that has also compelled the makeshift closure of a UNHCR field office.
The main areas from which people have been fleeing are the towns of Bangassou, Bema and Mobaye – all several hundred kilometres east of the capital Bangui. Local authorities estimate that over 60,000 people have fled from these areas and into Democratic Republic of the Congo since May. UNHCR proceeds to work to verify the numbers.
One of the areas into which people have fled is Ndu, across the Mbomou Sea from CAR’s Bangassou, and slightly more than a village. Our colleagues, who were in Ndu a few days ago, say the situation is chaotic and its proximity to the border makes it dangerous, with armed bandits feared to be nearby. Refugees are staying everywhere they can – in churches, in buildings used as schools, in the only health centre, or sleeping in the open. People despairingly need more healthcare, food and shelter.
Ndu is in DRC’s Bas-Uélé province, which as of thirty June was estimated to be hosting some 37,000 fresh arrivals from CAR. Others fleeing CAR have headed further to the south and west into areas of DRC’s Nord-Ubangi province, where it’s estimated there were over 23,000 fresh arrivals as of the end of June.
UNHCR is organizing to bring in ease aid for 20,000 people in Ndu and other areas of both provinces, from Kampala. However moving help there quickly is difficult. Roads are mud-filled and in places virtually impassable for normal transport, hence tractors and other specialized vehicles are needed. We expect the convoys to arrive in days.
As of end June, 102,802 Central African Republic refugees were registered in Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition more than 60,000 fresh arrivals have been registered by DRC authorities in North Ubangui and Bas-Uélé since May. Of the US$55.Trio million needed in funding for the DRC-CAR situation this year, $Two.8 million has so far been received.
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UNHCR – CAR violence driving more refugees into northern DRC, local communities spread to cope
CAR violence driving more refugees into northern DRC, local communities spread to cope
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
A group of Central African refugees in Ndu, in DRC Bas Uele province. Several thousands of refugees have fled Central African Republic for the North of the Democratic Republic of Congo since May 2017. © UNHCR/Simon Lubuku
Latest violence in southern border areas of Central African Republic is driving more people to flee, including into remote areas of northern Democratic Republic of the Congo, putting immense pressure on difficult-to-reach local communities close to the border.
In Zemio, around 1,000 kilometres east of the capital Bangui, our playmate MSF reported last week that a baby had been shot dead by militants in a hospital housing more than 7,000 displaced people. MSF has since withdrawn from the town amid violence that has also coerced the improvised closure of a UNHCR field office.
The main areas from which people have been fleeing are the towns of Bangassou, Bema and Mobaye – all several hundred kilometres east of the capital Bangui. Local authorities estimate that over 60,000 people have fled from these areas and into Democratic Republic of the Congo since May. UNHCR resumes to work to verify the numbers.
One of the areas into which people have fled is Ndu, across the Mbomou Sea from CAR’s Bangassou, and hardly more than a village. Our colleagues, who were in Ndu a few days ago, say the situation is chaotic and its proximity to the border makes it dangerous, with armed bandits feared to be nearby. Refugees are staying everywhere they can – in churches, in buildings used as schools, in the only health centre, or sleeping in the open. People despairingly need more healthcare, food and shelter.
Ndu is in DRC’s Bas-Uélé province, which as of thirty June was estimated to be hosting some 37,000 fresh arrivals from CAR. Others fleeing CAR have headed further to the south and west into areas of DRC’s Nord-Ubangi province, where it’s estimated there were over 23,000 fresh arrivals as of the end of June.
UNHCR is organizing to bring in ease aid for 20,000 people in Ndu and other areas of both provinces, from Kampala. However moving help there quickly is difficult. Roads are mud-filled and in places virtually impassable for normal transport, hence tractors and other specialized vehicles are needed. We expect the convoys to arrive in days.
As of end June, 102,802 Central African Republic refugees were registered in Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition more than 60,000 fresh arrivals have been registered by DRC authorities in North Ubangui and Bas-Uélé since May. Of the US$55.Trio million needed in funding for the DRC-CAR situation this year, $Two.8 million has so far been received.
For more information on this topic, please contact: