Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - The dramatic humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic will be the focus of the meeting to be held on December 4 in Rome by Caritas Internationalis and several Caritas working in the Country.
"The groups for the defense of human rights have reported numerous cases of torture, murder and looting. The United Nations has launched the alarm of the danger that the situation could degenerate into a civil war", said a statement sent to Fides Agency.
The chaos in which the Central African Republic collapsed after having thrown out former President François Bozizé by rebels of the coalition Seleka, in March 2013, has created a serious humanitarian and food emergency because the harvest season has been affected by the violence.
"Bossangoa, in the north - says the statement - is perhaps the clearest image of the violent clashes between the rebels and self-defense groups that have forced 40,000 people to seek refuge in the Catholic mission".
Caritas points out that 400,000 displaced persons in Central Africa live in terrible conditions while 65,000 people have left the Country .
The meeting will also be attended by the Director of Caritas Central Africa, Fr. Elysée Guendjande, who was wounded by the rebels, and the head of the emergency response team of Caritas Internationalis, Emmanuel Mbuna. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 02/12/2013)
