UN Says Thousands of CAR Refugees Have Fled Clashes to Chad

Over 2,000 refugees from the Central African Republic have crossed into Chad in the past week following violent clashes in the country, the UN refugee agency has said.

The UNHCR says the refugees arriving after fleeing clashes between government forces and rebels in northern CAR face difficulties securing food, water and shelter in Chad.

The agency says its ability to provide for the refugees’ basic needs is “severely constrained” by inadequate funding – with a third of the country’s population being affected by the country’s instability.

“The CAR humanitarian crisis is one of the most underfunded UNHCR operations globally, with only 12% of the $164.7m requirements currently met despite the scale of displacement,” says UNHCR.

The country has been plagued by armed clashes between the rebel coalition led by ex-president François Bozizé and the national army supported by the UN mission there (Minusca) and Russian military companies.