18 000 DRC refugees in CAR?

2010-01-12 15:56

Bangui - The number of Democratic Republic of Congo nationals who have fled to the Central African Republic "could reach up to 18 000", Gaspard Nogode, sub-prefect of Mongoumba, south of Bangui said.

"There are more (refugees) than we think because not all of them have been recorded on the census yet", added Rodrigue Kopa of the Jesuit Refugee Services non-governmental organisation, which is distributing food supplies.

The refugees come from the Likouala region along the Oubangui river, which marks the border between Congo and DR Congo where inter-tribal clashes erupted in late October in a dispute over rich fishing waters.

According to official figures, at least 270 people, including 187 civilians, were killed in the violence and more than 150 000 people displaced within the DR Congo and in Congo.

The UN had estimated another 15 000 refugees were currently in the Central African Republic.

Since the start of December, the refugees have been living in very precarious conditions along the Oubangui river.

"There have already been six deaths among us, mostly children. Pregnant women have no help and no place to give birth," one refugee Mami Etchaune said.

The UN World Food Programme plans to send 520 tonnes (520 000 kilograms) of food supplies over the next two months.

"We are going to alert the other agencies (in the United Nations) to provide adequate aid for these people in need", regional director of the UN's World Food Programme Thomas Yanga said on a visit to the Central African Republic.

- SAPA