Violence surrounding the Central African Republic’s (CAR) December 27, 2020, presidential election has displaced over 200,000 people, UNHCR reported on January 29, 2021.
About 100,000 remain internally displaced, while 92,000 have fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and 13,240 to Cameroon, Chad, and the Republic of Congo.
UNHCR’s Boris Cheshirkov told Geneva reporters that refugees, fleeing gunfire in panic, face dire conditions near rivers, lacking shelter and food.
Rebels, controlling two-thirds of CAR, launched attacks to disrupt the election, won by President Faustin Archange Touadera amid opposition protests.
Dire Conditions for Refugees
Refugees in DRC’s remote border areas rely on fishing and scarce villager aid, with rivers as their only water source, per Cheshirkov.
Malaria, respiratory infections, and diarrhea are rampant, worsened by limited healthcare and sanitation.
“Urgent needs include food, shelter, and clean water to prevent COVID-19 spread,” he said.
Inside CAR, 100,000 IDPs face restricted aid access due to closed supply roads and armed groups at displacement sites like Batangafo and Bria, risking forced recruitment and extortion.
Rebel Offensive and Human Rights Abuses
Rebels, aiming to blockade Bangui and disrupt highways, intensified violence before the election, with two-thirds of voters unable to cast ballots due to insecurity, per UNHCR.
Cheshirkov reported rising sexual violence and pillaging by armed groups, violating humanitarian site protections.
CAR, one of the world’s poorest nations, has faced coups and conflict since 1960. The opposition contested Touadera’s January 4, 2021, victory, citing irregularities.
Humanitarian Response Hampered
The ongoing unrest has crippled aid delivery, with main supply routes shut and armed groups threatening IDP safety, Cheshirkov noted.
UNHCR is pre-positioning supplies in DRC before the rainy season, six weeks away, when airlifts will raise costs.
The agency’s $151.5 million 2021 budget for CAR is only 2% funded, risking a shortfall as needs grow.
The crisis’s scale demands urgent international support to protect vulnerable populations and stabilize the region.
Urgent Call for Action
UNHCR’s appeal emphasizes the need for funding to provide food, shelter, and healthcare to refugees and IDPs. The agency works with DRC and other neighbors to register arrivals and deliver aid, despite COVID-19 border restrictions.
CAR’s eight-year civil war, compounded by election violence, requires global attention to address root causes and support host communities.
Swift action is critical to alleviate suffering and prevent further displacement in CAR’s volatile landscape.
