Africa-Press. The town of Am Dafok, located in northern Central African Republic near the border with Sudan, has witnessed an unprecedented wave of mass displacement after the armed forces of Central African Republic regained control of the town from rebel armed groups on July 5. This comes amid warnings from a local source that the situation has become “calm but remains unstable.”
The local source indicated that the majority of Am Dafok’s residents and those from nearby villages have gathered near its temporary base seeking protection, confirming that it is closely monitoring the developments on the ground amid ongoing security threats along the border with Sudan.
A spokesperson for the mission reported that the latest statistics from local authorities as of last Saturday showed that 17,585 people have sought refuge around the temporary base in Am Dafok, marking the largest displacement movement in the region to date.
Additionally, over 700 other individuals fled to the nearby town of Birao, which also hosts a base, following rumors of attacks targeting their village along the road connecting Birao and Am Dafok.
The spokesperson noted that the displaced individuals in Am Dafok represent essentially all the town’s residents, along with those from about ten nearby villages affected by violence that erupted since June 30. He explained that the humanitarian conditions are “extremely difficult” at present, despite a decrease in the intensity of clashes; however, the security situation remains fragile and unstable.
The local source confirmed that it continues to monitor the situation continuously, especially given the ease of border crossings and the ongoing activities of armed groups in the area. It stated that its current priorities include protecting civilians, supporting the presence of state institutions, and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those affected.
Furthermore, the local source clarified that it is working to provide protection for humanitarian workers delivering assistance to the affected populations, ensuring that relief operations continue amid the complex security conditions.
The mission emphasized that the displacement of more than 17,000 people within a few hours poses a significant humanitarian challenge, stressing that current efforts focus on ensuring the protection of the displaced and providing them with urgent humanitarian needs, alongside working to create suitable conditions for their voluntary, safe, and dignified return to their areas when security conditions allow.
