Sudanese refugees in CAR feel ‘forgotten’: Sheikh

The more than 1,000 Sudanese refugees at Sam Ounja camp in the Central African Republic (CAR) are living in abysmal conditions, and have appealed to humanitarian organisations and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for assistance. The refugees in CAR are facing similar challenges to their counterparts in Chad as well as the displaced of Darfur, with food shortages and outbreaks of disease due to the heavy seasonal rainfall. Sheikh Ahmed Abkar Nour of Sam Ounja camp told Radio Dabanga the refugees feel “international organisations have disregarded them for a long while.” He called for international and humanitarian organisations to “provide urgent support of plastic sheeting, tents and food so that the refugees can face the autumn rains.” This year has been a particularly precarious one for Sudanese refugees in CAR, most of whom fled tribal hostilities in Darfur. A recent coup d’état has already uprooted thousands of refugees, and relief agencies have trouble reaching them to provide aid. File photo: UNHCR staff meet the Sudanese refugees in Birao, Central African Republic, in May (UNHCR/J.Ghota) Related: ‘5.663’ Sudan refugees in CAR uprooted after coup (27 March 2013) UNHCR reaches Sudanese refugees in remote region of Central African Republic (31 May 2013)Darfuri refugees in Central Africa demand relocation (6 December 2012)