The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has advised governments not to forcibly return people to the Central African Republic (CAR). The return advisory, issued on 25 April, stresses that given the current circumstances, many people fleeing CAR are likely to meet the 1951 Convention criteria for refugee status. UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards has said that this decision has been made “in light of the current fluid and dangerous situation in CAR, including the wide prevalence of human rights violations and the grave and deteriorating humanitarian situation”.
In recent months, approximately 206,000 people have become internally displaced and 50,000 people have applied for asylum in neighbouring countries, with a majority fleeing to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Violence has escalated since December when the Seleka rebel coalition forces initiated a coup that eventually overthrew President Francois Bozize. Since then, Seleka have been accused by Human Rights Watch for committing violations against civilians including rape, torture and looting.
- 10.05.2013
Human Rights Watch, Central African Republic: Rampant Abuses After Coup - 10.05.2013
Reuters, Central African Republic’s ex-rebels went on rampage: rights group - 06.05.2013
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Emergency Relief Coordinator’s Key Messages on the Central African Republic – Issue Number 1 - 30.04.2013
UNHCR, UNHCR Urges governments against forcible returns to Central African Republic - 24.04.2013
UNHCR, UNHCR Position on returns to the Central African Republic - 12.04.2013
ECRE, Weekly Bulletin, Turmoil in Central African Republic leaves 37,000 refugees and 173,000 internally displaced people
This article originally appeared in the ECRE Weekly Bulletin of 17 May 2013
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