Central African Republic: NGO MSF warns of “forced eviction” from a Bambari refugee camp
The NGO Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) warns about the forced eviction of the Elevage refugee camp near Bambari.
REUTERS / Regis Duvignau
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
The situation of the 8,500 displaced persons who had to flee a Bambari refugee camp in the center of the country remains very precarious.
Present on site, the NGO Médecins sans frontières (MSF) is alarmed by a “
forced eviction
” followed by the fire in the Elevage camp two weeks ago.
Several international organizations are intervening on the spot to alleviate the humanitarian emergency, but so far, the circumstances which caused the flight of the displaced remain unclear.
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With our correspondent in Bangui
,
Carol Valade
For MSF, there is no doubt that this is indeed a forced eviction and not a voluntary departure, as the local authorities first indicated.
After a rebel attack on a Central African Armed Forces (Faca) post, the soldiers returned to the camp.
Rhian Gastineau, MSF Holland head of mission in CAR: “
It was a forced action and to coerce the people who live in the camp.
It's very serious because they don't have a place for them.
"
In early June, some 8,5K people were expelled from the makeshift camp #Elevage, near #Bambari, Central African Republic (#CAR), after renewed fighting broke out.
They sought refuge in the compound of a mosque in the town.
What is the situation now?
🔽Thread pic.twitter.com/yOje3FErEX
- MSF International (@MSF) June 18, 2021
The camp, populated mainly by Fulani Muslims displaced during the 2013 crisis, has been reduced to ashes without knowing the origin of the fires yet.
Witnesses questioned by the NGO describe a field of ruins.
Videos posted online show hundreds of people walking with some luggage.
Need shelter quickly
Some have found refuge in the enclosure of the Bambari mosque and sleep on the floor in particularly precarious conditions.
“
We need to act very quickly, because at the moment it's the rainy season,
supports Rhian Gastineau.
The main priority for now is to have shelter, additional mosquito nets, food, clean water and put in place latrines.
"
The small health post managed by MSF was destroyed in the camp fires.
In a previous report, the NGO was concerned to see health structures more and more regularly targeted.
►Also read: Refugees: the UNHCR warns about the situation in CAR, the Sahel or Uganda
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Central African Republic
Refugees
Humanitarian
NGO
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