20 Jan 2018 | 10:08 PM UTC
CAR: Fighting near Paoua displaces 60,000 people as of January 15 /update 1
Clashes between armed groups in Paoua leave at least 60,000 others displaced as of January 15; at least 100,000 people in need of humanitarian aid
Event
As of Monday, January 15, fighting that broke out on January 3 between members of the Central African Revolution and Justice (RJ) group and fighters from the Movement for the Liberation of the Central African Republic (MNLC) - allegedly militants of the Ex-Seleka umbrella group, a coalition of rebel militant groups - near Paoua (Ouham-Pendé prefecture) had left at least 100 people dead and roughly 60,000 more displaced. According to the UN, at least 100,000 people in the area require urgent humanitarian aid.
Additional fighting is expected near Paoua and elsewhere in Ouham-Pendé prefecture in the coming days.
Context
Conflict and insecurity are the main drivers of acute food insecurity, compounded by growing internal displacements and resulting in devastating effects on livelihoods and the overall nutrition of much of the population. In conflict areas, humanitarian assistance has become the main food source for residents.
The government of the Central African Republic (CAR) is currently attempting, with the support of the international community, to restore its authority throughout the country by redeploying officials and re-establishing local government offices, hoping to undermine the influence of armed groups. Central African government officials reportedly surveyed Paoua and its local security environment on January 5.
Religious conflicts have ravaged CAR since December 2013. Despite a ceasefire signed between 13 rebel groups and the government on June 19, 2017, clashes remain frequent throughout the country. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths, created almost 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), and pushed more than 500,000 people to seek refuge in neighboring Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Chad.
Advice
Most Western governments advise against nonessential travel to the capital Bangui and against all travel to the rest of the country (particularly the northern provinces of Mambéré-Kadéï and Ombella-Mpoko and the eastern provinces of Nana-Grebizi, Ouaka, Basse-Kotto, Bamingui-Bangoran, Haute-Kotto, Mbomou, Vakaga and Haut-Mboubou) due to security concerns. Travel should only be considered with proper security protocols in place.
