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Central African Republic

The increasing violence severely limited the population's access to healthcare

Focus 
Focus / The increasing violence severely limited access to healthcare
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Friday 02/02/2018

    A brutal increase of violence

    “In the past year, we have treated patients who have been shot, stabbed, beaten, burned in their homes and raped,” says Frédéric Lai Manantsoa, MSF Head of Mission in CAR. "In 2017 we witnessed levels of violence against the civilian population in CAR that evoked the worst months of the conflict of 2013-14.”

    Click on the link to see an interactive map and timeline of the main incidents in the Central African Republic in 2017.

    Thousands of people with not access to medical care

    What marked the violence in CAR during 2017 was its effect on people’s access to medical care, especially when they needed it most. This, combined with people’s reduced access to food, water, shelter and education, has brought the population to a state of extreme vulnerability.

    Discover the story of Raymond, Christelle, Sylvain, Pierre... Each of them shows the consequences of the indiscriminate violence that is plaguing the country.

    Articles

    Central African Republic

    Suffering mounts as armed groups return to Bambari

    “One day, you will come back and you won’t find anyone here because the problems will have killed us all.”
    Ein Grab wird in der Nähe des Sangaris IDP Camps in Bambari, in der Zentralafrikanischen Republik, ausgehoben. März 2017. © Colin Delfosse/Ouf of Focus

    Central African Republic

    Paul Brockman

    Ongoing fears of outbursts of violence in Bambari hamper access to healthcare

    Bambari is once again plagued by violence and brutal attacks by armed groups. Many inhabitants have fled the city and are deprived of access to health care.

    Central African Republic

    Fire and bloodshed in Bambari, a town symbolizing peace

    New cycle of inter-community violence has taken hold in Bambari, causing loss of life and further displacements of population.

    Central African Republic

    A look back to the days of violence in Bangui and the mass influx of casualties

    For over 18 months, Central African Republic has been yet again subjected to extreme violence inflicted on a population left traumatised by the civil war in 2013 and 2014.

    Central African Republic

    Survivors describe a mass rape ordeal outside Bossangoa

    Some women managed to escape but the rest were abducted and taken to an armed group camp. The men raped them multiple times over the course of the day.

    Central African Republic

    Outbursts of violence deprive civilians of access to medical care

    Outside the capital Bangui, Central African Republic has grown increasingly unstable over the past months. MSF is a direct witness to the impact this conflict is having on the country's already fragile healthcare system.

    Central African Republic

    Attacks on medical facilities are leaving people without options

    "In 2017 we witnessed levels of violence that evoked the worst months of the conflict of 2013-14."

    Central African Republic

    A story about HIV, conflict and community

    This is the story of Raymond. What happened to him and his family shows the consequences of the indiscriminate violence that is plaguing the country.

    Central African Republic

    "On that day, I thought I was going to die”

    Sylvain is an MSF driver for the Mission Emergency Response Team. In June 2017, he was in the Alindao region in order to respond to the medical and humanitarian needs of the local population, which has been heavily affected by conflict in the area.

    Central African Republic

    Renewed violence and its impact on access to healthcare in Bria

    The cycle of attacks and violence in 2017 has left Bria’s neighborhoods entrenched or emptied by their inhabitants.

    Central African Republic

    “It was horrible leaving our patients behind when they needed us”

    Pelé Hubert has been the MSF outreach nurse supervisor in Bangassou since 2015. In spite of the extremely volatile security situation in 2017 he continued to bring vital humanitarian aid to his compatriots until the suspension of activities at the end of November.

    Central African Republic

    “It was when I lowered my arms that they started to shoot"

    On the 8th of September 2017, armed men opened fire on Batangafo Hospital, killing a 15-year-old and a child. Two other people were injured, among them Christelle.

    Central African Republic

    Pierre Yakanza Gouassi

    “I had to flee, and no one was able to distribute medication to the population"

    Pierre Yakanza Gouassi was the assistant coordinator for the MSF project in Zemio. When the security situation no longer allowed the international team to stay, he united the local team to continue providing essential healthcare to the population.

    Central African Republic

    13 wounded casualties treated in hospital and thousands of people displaced

    About 30 000 people have fled violent clashes to take refuge in the town of Paoua. They tell of torched villages, exactions and indiscriminate attacks on anyone found in the zone.

    Central African Republic

    Following an attack, MSF suspends humanitarian relief activities in Bangassou

    Following a violent armed robbery that threatened the lives of its workers, MSF has evacuated all its 58 national and international staff from Bangassou.

    Central African Republic

    “The only people left in Zemio are those who couldn’t run away”

    Recent attacks on Zemio, in southeast Central African Republic, have closed down the hospital and forced the city’s population, including MSF staff members, to flee.

    Central African Republic

    10,000 people sleep in Batangafo hospital after camp is looted and burnt

    Some 10,000 people are sheltering in the grounds of Batangafo hospital more than 10 days after violence broke out between rival groups in this northern Central African Republic city, according to MSF.

    Central African Republic

    Baby brutally killed at a hospital

    The merciless killing of a baby in a hospital in Zemio points to the extreme brutality against civilians in the escalating conflict.

    Central African Republic

    “I’m a civilian, not a fighter. Why did they attack me?”

    In Bria, fighting opposing various armed groups is increasingly accompanied by attacks against civilians.

    Central African Republic

    “I thought I was dead, but it seems that he didn’t reach a part of my throat"

    Anga, 32 years old, is a resident of Alindao. On 11 May 2017, he was transferred to the hospital in Bambari, they had tried to cut his throat, but, miraculously, he survived.

    Central African Republic

    Will Bambari be next?

    Its residents worry that the violence engulfing the cities of Bangassou and Bria since early May in the form of brutal massacres could soon spread to Bambari.

    Central African Republic

    Johan Berg

    “No sounds were heard except for the shots being fired"

    Johan Berg works as a doctor for MSF in Bangassou, in the the southeastern area of Central African Republic. He explains the situation.

    Central African Republic

    Update on violence in the east of CAR and MSF response

    While the situation calmed down in Bangassou, on May 15th, rivalries between self-defence forces and Ex-Seleka coalition dissidents led to an outbreak of violence in Bria.

    Central African Republic

    “Our paediatric hospital had to suddenly function as an adult trauma center”

    Dr. Katie Treble was working in the MSF hospital in Bria during the weekend of 24 to 26 March when heavy fighting occurred.

    Central African Republic

    Civilians pay the price of the renewed brutal fighting

    The conflict intensifies, dozens of civilians are being killed and wounded. Thousands are being forced to flee for their lives and are receiving little to no humanitarian assistance