AFRICA/CHAD - Over 4,000 more Central African Republic refugees have crossed into Chad since the beginning of the month

Wednesday, 22 February 2006

N’Djamena (Fides Service)- Increasing numbers of people are fleeing violence in the Central African Republic, 4,000 new arrivals in Chad since the beginning of February. Personnel of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees present in the region says the refugees continue to arrive at an average of 200 a day.
Many refugees say they are fleeing attacks by army troops on civilians suspected of helping rebel soldiers. Others speak of rebels raiding villages, taking food and animals and forcefully recruiting young boys. Many speak of attacks by common bandits too. Some say they were attacked by all three, army, rebels and bandits.
UNHCR is unable to confirm these reports since lack of security makes its presence in Central African impossible. However the same tales are told by most of the refugees who say that since the beginning of February at least 50 civilians have been killed in violence in the north of the Central African Republic, and that the number could be much higher. They say many people too afraid to return home have taken to hiding in the bush. So UNHCR expects the flow of refugees to continue. Most refugees cross the border near the village of Bekoninga about 500 mt inside Chad which has a population of about 600 people.
To speed up the registration process and help identify the more vulnerable refugees UNHCR has mobilised more personnel from other offices in the south and east of Chad.
Foreseeing the arrival of more refugees UNHCR and the Chad authorities are considering opening a third camp near Gore. At the moment there are about 45,000 Central African Republic refugees in Gondje and Amboko camps in southern Chad. Gondje camp - 12 km west of Gore - was opened in December 2005 to relieve discomfort in overcrowded Amboko camp. Chad also has at least 200,000 refugees from the Sudanese region of Darfur in 12 camps in the eastern Chad. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 22/2/2006 righe 33 parole 413)


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