Central African Republic: ICRC victim of attacks calls for respect for humanitarian work
In the Central African Republic, the ICRC denounces the attacks of which it was the victim on the night of December 27 and calls for respect for the work of humanitarian workers.
AFP - FABRICE COFFRINI
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In the Central African Republic, the ICRC denounces the attacks of which it was the victim this week and calls for respect for the work of humanitarian workers.
The first attack took place in Kaga Bandoro, where an armed individual entered the compound of the ICRC-supported hospital in that locality and extorted the staff.
The second took place, almost at the same time in Bouar, where the ICRC was forced to drastically reduce its activities.
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These attacks took place on the night of December 27.
Bruce Biber, head of the ICRC delegation for the Central African Republic, said the attackers were armed with guns.
“
They started to take everything, office equipment, computers, but also everything that was in our warehouses.
This also includes medicines for animal health, animal vaccines which are absolutely essential in this region.
When it comes to the well-being of this whole region, it's hard to see what people can do with these vaccines.
"
For the ICRC, the motive is purely criminal: "
It is not because we are humanitarian that we were targeted, but there was an opportunity to be able to loot at will and armed elements took advantage of this opportunity. .
"
During this attack, three guards were injured, in particular by a knife or a butt: "
So these were violent acts
," recalls Bruce Biber.
Areas inaccessible due to insecurity
Following these attacks, the ICRC is concerned for areas where its teams cannot access due to insecurity.
“
We are very concerned about the situation of the population in these places, such as Bossembalé, Yaloké, Mbaïki, to name just three, but there are several localities like that which are affected by the hostilities.
In these places, we have very little, if at all, control over the situation of people in these places.
Today, we are a little in the dark,
”explains the head of the ICRC delegation in the Central African Republic.
The actors called upon by the ICRC simply cannot guarantee that aid workers will be safe: “
Not everywhere, but for some places it is indeed the situation.
These places are our priority.
We absolutely wanted to be able to access these places to see the situation of the population, assess the needs and come to assistance.
"
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