More than 2,600 refugees from the province of Mai-Ndombe in the Democratic Republic of Congo, fleeing a land dispute between the Téké and Yaka ethnic groups, have found refuge in the district of Ngabé, in the center-east of Congo-Brazzaville. Their living conditions are appalling, alarmed the Catholic humanitarian NGO Caritas on Friday, November 4, which has just completed an assessment mission in the area.
With our correspondent in Brazzaville, Loicia Martial
They are in total 2,639 individuals to have crossed the Congo River since the end of August-beginning of September, to take refuge in the sub-prefecture of Ngabé.
According to Alain Robert Moukouri, secretary general of Caritas Congo, these refugees are really in need. They are in great precariousness, he explains to us, “(…). There are many children of school age who find themselves deprived “.
On almost every level, the situation of the refugees, who continue to arrive, leaves something to be desired. The issue of the food crisis is particularly problematic. ” There isn’t much to eat. Already, in normal times, Ngabé is supplied by Brazzaville. With the fluctuation of market prices from Brazzaville, what are the repercussions in Ngabé ? The food situation is very critical », continues Alain Robert Moukouri.
For lack of sanitation, humanitarians fear more and more the appearance of epidemics. ” In terms of health, the Ngabé health center was not authorized to receive so many people, who also cross during the rainy season. There are not enough latrines. This is the big risk we have in terms of waterborne diseases “says the Secretary General.
Caritas Congo calls on all humanitarian agencies in the country to increase their interventions in the area hosting the refugees from DRC.