Central African Republic: UN begins separating civilian, military refugees

Sixty-five former soldiers from the Central African Republic (CAR) have been transferred from a border town in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to a camp further inland in the first phase of an operation designed to maintain the civilian character of refugee sites, the United Nations refugee agency said today.

The transfer was being carried out at the request of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which has insisted on separating the more than 24,000 civilian refugees and 1,250 former soldiers who had fled the CAR during an attempted coup in May.

The presence of both civilian and military refugees in the camps has become an increasing problem in recent years, whether in West Timor, eastern Zaire, or other areas, the UN agency said. The actual separation of combatants has sometimes posed major problems. UNHCR has insisted that the civilian nature of the camps be preserved, ensuring the safety and security of refugees and surrounding host populations.

The former CAR soldiers were taken by truck Monday from the border town of Zongo to a site at Bokilio, 120 kilometres inland. The operation was scheduled to continue Wednesday with the transfer of between 400 and 600 persons by UN peacekeepers to the new site, the agency said.

Truck convoys were scheduled to make the 24-hour trip every two days, completing the transfer of up to 2,500 people, within ten days, according to the agency. Those not physically able to make the overland trip will be transferred by helicopter. A doctor from a non-governmental organization was accompanying each convoy.

Peacekeepers from the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) registered the group of former soldiers and their families and secured their agreement for the move to the new site at Bokilio. Once the former soldiers have been moved, UNHCR said it would begin the transfer of the civilian refugees to a new site being prepared further inland at Mole.