Sudanese refugees in CAR want UN to move camp

The 2,200 Sudanese refugees of camp Bambari in the Central African Republic (CAR) have demanded that the UN move them to any other camp. They base their demand on the deteriorating security, the humanitarian and health situation at the camp, aggravated by the withdrawal of humanitarian organisations since the Seleka rebel coalition sized power in the CAR capital of Bangui three months ago. The sheikh of camp Bambari, Abdulrahman Ismail, told Radio Dabanga that about 2,200 refugees in the camp are suffering difficult humanitarian conditions with no shelter or food. “In spite of the heavy rain, they have no plastic sheeting. The humanitarian organisations withdrew after the outbreak of the conflict between the rebels and the government, so we request the UN and humanitarian organisations to move the camp to a place where protection and humanitarian aid are available.” Human Rights Watch (HRW) says members of the Seleka rebel coalition that overthrew the CAR’s government in March have committed “rampant abuses” against villagers in rural areas around the capital.In March, a Sudanese refugee in CAR told Radio Dabanga that 5,663 fellow refugees had been uprooted from their homes because of the coup. They had returned to the abandoned Samwinja camp, located near the Sudanese border, living in “deplorable” conditions.File photo: Sudanese refugeesRelated: ‘5.663’ Sudan refugees in CAR uprooted after coup (27 March 2013)