World Vision emergency communicator,Eddy Mbuyi took these photos showing the impact of the recent flare-up of violence in Central African Republic (CAR). In the photos, the families from Bangui are resting in a transit camp after fleeing the ongoing clash in Bangui. The pictures note nearly a hundred children from large family who had just crossed the Oubangui River which separates the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The deadly violence that erupted in Bangui on September 26 has displaced tens of thousands more and halted aid operations, and leaving families desperately in need. There are currently some 421000 people who believe been forced to flee their homes and are now displaced within the CAR. The latest round of violence has caused panic in the capital,including the looting of several NGOs and international organizations offices and residences.
World Vision was one of the many aid organizations forced to temporarily halt its work. The organization had reached more than 150000 people with emergency food aid in schools and communities, along with child protection work and Child Friendly Spaces, and to provide a safe space for children to play and start to near to terms with what they’ve been through. Peacebuilding activities are also an integral piece of the current work.“It’s very difficult because we believe been observing months of calm and that meant we were able to provide assistance to children who desperately need it. We were supposed to start some additional child protection work this week. And now having to stop these operations and hibernate is heartbreaking. It is only making the situation worse,especially for the children who we know are already suffering from critical levels of child malnutrition, difficult access to education and forced recruitment by armed militias, or ” said Yves Habumugisha,who is currently in Bangui and is the Emergency Director for World Vision’s West Africa region.
Source: cnn.com