CAR refugees to be assessed

WFP and UNHCR were due to begin a joint mission to the northwest Equateur province on Monday (mostly in the Zongo and Libenge areas) in response to UNHCR reports that 30,000 to 45,000 refugees had recently arrived from neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR). The refugee exodus from the CAR capital of Bangui is the result of a failed coup attempt launched on 28 May by a mutinous army unit against President Ange-Felix Patasse. Meanwhile, according to WFP’s latest emergency update, the UN food agency continued to assist 3,500 flood victims in Kinshasa by providing 131 mt of food. In Equateur province, a WFP team undertook an assessment mission in Makanza, Wenga and Waka along the frontline. “Preliminary findings indicate that some vulnerable groups have limited access to staple food, and signs of malnutrition could be observed among the children. Medicines, tools and seeds are also reportedly unavailable,” the update said. In Katanga province, the delivery of some 400 mt of pulses to the Kisenge refugee camp is still on hold due to a strike by rail workers. “Further delays are likely to impact negatively on the July distribution,” WFP warned.