About 4 000 people have fled to Chad in the past eight days because of attacks by unidentified armed groups in the Central African Republic, the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday.
The new arrivals told members of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees that they were fleeing from violence in the northwestern Paoua region of Central African Republic, said spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis.
”The refugees told the mission they fled lootings and fear of violence,” Pagonis told reporters. ”Three cases of minor malnourishment have been diagnosed … but on the whole the health situation of the refugees is stable, although it could quickly deteriorate if the refugees remain at the volatile border.”
UN workers from several agencies visited the refugees’ villages of origin last week to get a better idea of the situation, Pagonis said, adding that the findings are expected in the next few days.
It is the third major exodus of refugees from the Central African Republic to Chad.
In 2003, about 30 000 fled after a military coup and another 10 000 crossed earlier this year after clashes between government forces and unidentified armed groups.
Chad is also hosting more than 200 000 refugees from Sudan’s embattled Darfur region in 12 camps in the eastern part of the country.
Francois Bozize, the military strongman who seized power in the March 2003 coup, was elected president of the Central African Republic in May. – Sapa-AP