UN agency: Central African violence displaced about 1m people

The United Nations refugee agency said Friday that the humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) remains dire as the rising violence displaced more than 935,000 people. "People are hiding in the bush, fearing fresh attacks," spokesperson Babar Baloch told journalists in Geneva citing reports from colleagues at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Babar also cited a "complete breakdown in law and order" as a challenge to putting in place an effective system for aid distribution." He said that despite an international military presence near Bangui airport, they "had not been able to secure conditions for the humanitarian agencies to do their job effectively." Targeted attacks against civilians, looting, and the presence of armed elements at some displacement sites had severely limited humanitarian agencies' access to those in need of urgent assistance. This deteriorating situation, coupled with poor road infrastructure, make it increasingly difficult to reach people displaced by the conflict.