Violence against civilians encompasses both Muslim and Christian groups

Muslim civilians flee the violence in Central Africa

 "Civilians remain in constant fear for their lives, and have been largely left to fend for themselves," said Martine Flokstra, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders. "In the northwest and in Bangui, we are currently witnessing direct attacks against the Muslim minority. We are concerned about the fate of these communities trapped in their villages, surrounded by anti-Balaka groups, and also about the fact that many Muslim families are being forced into exile to survive."

This statement expresses the concerns expressed by Doctors Without Borders about the growing civilian emergency in Central Africa.  The organization underlines the fact that the violence has been extreme, as civilians are caught in the cross fire of opposing groups.

Both Muslim and Christian civilian groups have been seriously impacted by the fighting that has taken in Central Africa.  Physician teams have treated patients many areas of the northwest.  A Muslim community of 2,500 people had to leave their village.  In Bouar, more than 8,000 Muslim people are effectively unable to escape the violence and are in many ways imprisoned because of the fighting all around them, making it impossible to flee.  30,000 Muslim refugees have already fled to Chad and another 10,000 have crossed into Cameroon.  People gather in displacement sites and near the airport at the Great Mosque, seeking refuge from the violence.  The majority of Christians also live in fear and have been displaced, with hundreds of thousands also living in what is described as appalling conditions.

Doctors with Borders continues to express their organization's concerns about the many thousands of civilians that amount to what is described as almost the entire civilian populations.  As one official said, "The indiscriminate and seemingly unstoppable violence has continued to reach new heights over the last months. Past actions and current efforts are insufficient in the face of the ongoing crisis.

This announcement by Doctors Without Borders was made as the International Criminal Court begins war crimes investigations of the militant groups and their leaders.  This Court investigation was announced one day ago, as the violence continues to escalate without resolution in a country torn by religious hatreds and strife.

In the meantime the country has elected Catherine Samba-Panza, 58,  to be the first woman to lead the nation.  Hers is an interim election with the term to be a little over a year.  The goal is for that interim election to be a step leading to national elections.