Over 1400 killed in Bangui since outbreak of violence in December

Close to 1,400 people have died and 960 others have been injured since Dec. 5, 2013 when the self- defense militia commonly referred to as anti-Balakas launched an offensive against ex-Seleka rebels in Bangui, Antoine Mbao Bogo, the head of the Central African Republic's Red Cross said over the weekend. "We are working in very difficult conditions, constantly under the threat of armed groups," Bogo said when he addressed the press in Bangui. For the last one week, Bangui has been witnessing a new wave of violence caused by renewed fighting between the anti-Balakas and the ex-Seleka rebels. Bogo affirmed that Red Cross lost a volunteer three weeks ago when he was attacked at his home by unknown armed men. "Six other volunteers were attacked by armed men in Bangui on Friday and their phones stolen when they were rushing to assist victims of a grenade attack," he lamented. Bogo warned that if violence against humanitarian workers continue, Central African Republic's Red Cross will have no choice but to suspend its activities of collecting dead bodies. The Red Cross official further lamented the lack of means such as ambulances to facilitate the work of the Red Cross volunteers. "The civilian population and the soldiers as well as anyone holding weapons should protect Red Cross volunteers whose role is to provide protection to those in need," Bogo said.