Humanitarian Coordinator condemns violence in Bambari

(Bangui, 25 June 2014) – The Senior Humanitarian Coordinator to the Central African Republic (CAR), Claire Bourgeois, today strongly condemned the upsurge in intercommunity violence in and around the town of Bambari during the last few days which reportedly killed tens of people and displaced several thousand. She presents her sincere condolences to the families affected.

Calm had returned to Bambari in the aftermath of clashes at the end of May. However, a series of attack in the surrounding area, culminating in the attack on the Peul community close to Bambari on the 23 June has led to a fresh outbreak of inter-community killings in the town and new displacement.

“The cycle of revenge attacks has already caused hundreds of thousands to flee their homes over the past six months and provoke biggest crisis in the country’s history,” said Ms Bourgeois.

“While we welcome the deployment and efforts of international forces, as well as efforts to bring back peace and stability, CAR needs additional help now to protect civilians and break the cycle of perpetual violence.”

Over the past year, CAR has experienced a major political and security crisis that has affected nearly its entire population. Since the overthrow of the Government by the Seleka rebel movement in March 2013, the northern and western regions of the country have seen intense and unprecedented violence against civilians and minorities. In December 2013, the violence in and around Bangui escalated when the anti-balaka militia attacked the ex-Seleka.

Around 2.5 million of CAR’s 4.6 million population are in need of humanitarian assistance. The 2014 CAR humanitarian appeal for $565 million is only 35 percent funded.

For more information, please contact:
John James, Head of Public Information and Information Management, OCHA CAR, calvinjames@un.org, Tel.+00236 70857590
OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org or www.reliefweb.int.