Thousands of people flee CAR

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has sent a team to southern Chad to verify reports of the arrival of approximately 20,000 refugees fleeing fighting in the northern areas of the Central African Republic (CAR), the UN agency reported on Wednesday. The UN agency quoted local NGOs as saying that the refugees who had arrived in Chad comprised 6,000 CAR nationals and about 13,000 Chadians who had been living in northern CAR. They fled to escape fighting between government troops and rebel forces. "They have gathered in two main border areas: Koumba, some 65 km southeast of the southern border town of Gore, and Kaba-Roangar, some 35 km southwest of Gore," the UNHCR said. The three-member UNHCR team that left the Chadian capital, Ndjamena, on Sunday "is now at the two locations, making a rapid assessment of the needs of the refugees and returning Chadians. Both groups are said to be in poor condition without adequate food, shelter or proper health care". The agency also reported that smaller numbers of refugees from areas south of the CAR capital, Bangui, had fled to the Republic of Congo, "to escape rebel activity near their homes". See also the UNHCR