ONLY ON AP Muslims seek refuge in church as they fear militia attacks

Описание: (22 Apr 2014) In a church in the west of the Central African Republic, 900 Muslims are still sheltering from an Anti-Balaka militia attack.
They are trapped in Carnot, a small diamond town 500 kilometres (311 miles) by road from the capital Bangui.
Inside the Catholic church, hundreds lie on plastic mats, waiting for salvation.
Most want to flee to Cameroon.
But they have been waiting for months for a safe passage across the border.
With little outside help, the local Christian community is doing its best to help the Muslims who fled Anti-Balaka reprisals after the withdrawal of the mostly-Muslim Seleka rebels who held power until January.
With the approach of the rainy season, roads into this region become impassable.
Unless help arrives soon, the camp residents will likely be stuck here for a long time to come.
Most are Peuls, the ethnic group that commonly tended livestock across this region.
With their wealth tied up in their stolen herds, few have money left to purchase food, let alone hire a truck to take them across the border to Cameroon where tens of thousands have already fled.
Hardly any dare to leave the camp grounds, fearing aggression from the Anti-Balaka who remain nearby in town.
The Anti-Balaka base is just round the corner.
They say they have disarmed and now wear identity cards.
Their leaders say the time of fighting is over, and want to get the town back on its feet, but are vague on whether Muslims will be permitted to eventually play a part again in the town of their ancestors.
The presence of a contingent of African peacekeepers is maintaining the peace for now, and provides round the clock protection for the displaced Muslims.
With international aid groups complaining of insecurity on the roads, little in the way of help has reached Carnot from the outside.
There is some expensive meat for those with money and rice is being provided by the World Food Programme.
But there is little to go with it.
The crisis may have entered a new phase, but for these refugees it is definitely not yet over.


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