UNHCR condemns attack on its staff in Central African Republic

Briefing notes

UNHCR condemns attack on its staff in Central African Republic

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

4 July 2017 Also available in:

Thousands of people have been displaced in the Kaga Bandoro area, following fighting between rebel groups and governmental forces. Some families, such as this one, have started to come back to the town since February 2007.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, strongly condemns an attack against its staff and premises that took place on Saturday, 1 July, in the northern town of Kaga Bandoro, in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Armed men entered UNHCR’s premises in Kaga Bandoro around 5 pm and looted all goods and money on site. Six of our staff members (including 4 UNHCR and 2 UNDP staff) who were present at the time of the incident were robbed of their belongings, including personal items and passports, and threatened at gun point.

Since the attack, UNHCR has temporarily relocated staff to the MINUSCA Base in Kaga Bandoro, and we will be moving some to Bangui.

We condemn this attack and stand by our staff. The safety of aid workers is of tremendous importance for being able to help civilian populations in desperate need.

In CAR, UNHCR provides protection and assistance to more than 8,600 refugees and 503,000 internal displaced people.

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