Um Dafuq, March 16 (Darfur24)
Sudanese refugees in the Central African Republic (CAR) reported on Monday that they were subjected to looting and abuse while returning from the border town of Birao to the town of Um Dafuq in South Darfur State.
One of the refugees told Darfur24 that 29 refugees, most of them women, were robbed on Sunday, adding that those who refused to hand over money were beaten by the attackers.
He explained that the incident occurred shortly after the refugees had received their cash assistance from the UN refugee agency.
Earlier, Sudanese refugees were subjected to a similar looting incident after receiving financial assistance from humanitarian organizations. At the same time, some residents were reportedly removed from aid lists after previously receiving support through allocations designated for refugees.
Since the outbreak of fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, about 27,000 Sudanese refugees have fled to the Central African Republic, where they are living in a camp near the city of Birao, the closest major town to Sudan’s western border.
Refugees say they face repeated abuses by armed groups and residents, including looting, threats and other forms of violence.