CAR Refugees abandoned in Cameroon

Three camps of Central African refugees, mainly of the Mbororo Fulani, have been set up East of Cameroon. 127,500 men, women and children have fled since December 2012 insecurity in Central Africa to take refuge in camps in Eastern Cameroon, as per the result of the most recent census of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

These refugees live in large white plastic tents, at the roof of branches. Camille Bargain de Care is the NGO responsible for water, hygiene and sanitation of Timangolo camp, as well as of psychological consultations for refugees wishing to do so in the three camps kept by the UNHCR in this region of Cameroon, just across the border.

The majority of the refugees fleeing unrest in Central African Republic have found refuge in Cameroon. The movement has quickened between last April and August with Chad's unwilling to take more.

In these conditions, Cameroon is seen as a haven with he part of the country that unfortunately have suffered most being the West from the incursions of the Boko Haram Islamist, coming from Nigeria.

In the camp of Timangolo, 95% of Central African refugees are Muslims. The majority of them are Mbororo Fulani herders who fled the threat of retaliation,"says Camille Bargain. They were faced with the hostilities of the local people who suspect them to be parties involved in the conflict.

The usual routes led to Cameroon where these nomads have made away with their cattle. They left them at the entrance of the camps and continue to take care of their only heritage.

These new Refugees have joined 100,000 others, also from central Africa because the region was fortunately sparsely populated. Tension is however mounting with the continual influx of refugees as per reports from villagers between Cameroonians and those refugees.

Sandra Lamarque, international solidarity, working on the site of Gado Badzere testified: 'the camps have overflowed. Cases of water-borne diseases continue to increase. This catastrophic situation is due to the acceleration of inflows since April, with thousands of arrivals every week in Cameroon.

"It is estimated that 180,000 Central African refugees have crossed the Cameroonian border by the end of the month of December. And the rainy season is expected soon thus "the drilling of wells and latrines constructions must be finished before the rains"