May 04, 2026 05:37 pm (IST)
Follow us:
After deadly attack, UN urges safety for displaced in CAR
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): At least two people were killed and six others injured in the Central African Republic (CAR) after an attack on an 18-truck humanitarian convoy relocating 1,300 Muslims to safety in the country's north, a spokesperson for the United Nations refugee agency on Tuesday confirmed, renewing calls for protection of displaced people.
“The convoy, heading for Kabo and Moyen in the north, was hit by a grenade believed to have been thrown by anti-balaka militiamen,” UNHCR spokesperson Fatoumata Lejeune told journalists in Geneva, referring to Monday’s attack believed to have been carried out by the mostly Christian armed group.
The anti-balaka, which translates as “machete proof,” are fighting mostly Muslim Séléka rebels who led a 2012 coup. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and 2.2 million are in desperate need of humanitarian aid.
“UNHCR condemns the attack and offers its condolences to the victims’ families. It underscores the need to provide physical protection to displaced communities at risk,” said Lejeune.
According to information from the UN agency, the 18-truck convoy was moving people previously trapped in the troubled PK 12 neighbourhood of the war-torn capital, Bangui, where they fled to escape inter-communal violence.
However, PK 12 later came under threat, leaving the displaced in constant fear of attacks without enough food and living in squalid conditions because of lack of sanitation facilities. The move came at the request of the people themselves. This was the second relocation operation from PK 12, following the movement of 93 people, including 35 children, to Bambari on April 20.
The convoy has since continued its journey to Kaga Bandoro, where injured received medical assistance.
“A UNHCR team accompanying the convoy reported that three babies have so far been born during the journey,” said Lejeune.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
What happened in Morocco? Two US troops go missing amid military exercises, rescue op underway
Mon, May 04 2026
Madness in Seoul: Pokémon event cancelled in South Korea after 40,000 people assemble in forest
Sun, May 03 2026
Israel sent secret laser shield to UAE during Iran attacks: Report
Fri, May 01 2026
Abuse of women journalists made ‘easier and more damaging’ by AI: Study unveils on World Press Freedom Day
Fri, May 01 2026
Indian-born population tops Australia’s foreign-born list, overtaking England after a century
Fri, May 01 2026
UAE leaves OPEC, OPEC+ amid global energy crisis
Tue, Apr 28 2026
'One equals four': Iran issues ‘quadruple strike’ warning to Gulf nations after Trump's threats
Mon, Apr 27 2026