The United Nations has reported four UN peacekeepers were killed in a convoy attack on 8 May by "anti-Balaka" fighters, while another peacekeeper is missing.
The Central African Republic (CAR) has been known to be one of the most dangerous countries for aid agencies, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated. In the first quarter of 2017 there have been at least 33 attacks on aid workers. The CAR’s conflict became prevalent after the Muslim Seleka rebels gained power in 2013, which led to uprisings by the Christian “anti-Balaka” militias. There have been around 425,000 people uprooted by the fighting in the CAR.
At least eight peacekeepers (one Cambodian and seven Moroccans) were wounded in the attack. Eight “anti-Balaka” attackers were also killed, with many more wounded in the crossfire. MINUSCA spokesman Herve Verhoosel stated that killing a UN peacekeeper is considered a war crime. Even with the 13,000 UN peacekeepers the UN mission has set out, civilians have still stated that it is not enough to protect them from the imminent danger of armed groups. The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that nearly half of the population of the CAR need humanitarian aid.
Four international aid agencies have stated that they were temporarily suspending the operations in northern CAR because of the attacks on the aid workers. The Seleka and other armed groups have increased attacks since 2013.
To read more, visit:
