UN concerned about civilian protection in CAR

UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations Humanitarian Office (OCHA) on Thursday expressed "serious concern about the protection of civilians amid reports of widespread looting and violence" in the Central African Republic (CAR), which is in a fragile state due to rebel group alliance attacks.

"The Seleka rebel group alliance has attacked several towns across the Central African Republic, moving from the northeast of the country in the direction of the capital Bangui," said the OCHA report covering Dec 10, 2012 to Jan 2 of this year.

There is an "estimated 316,000 people (who) are living in the affected areas, and some 700,000 person in Bangui are at further risk of an escalation in fighting," OCHA said in the report.

The office cited reports of people fleeing their homes for safety from a number of areas, including Bangui, in and around Ndele where the fighting initially broke out, and across the borders to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to Cameroon.

On Wednesday, the United Nations called on both the CAR government and rebels to halt violence and resolve the current crisis through dialogue.

"We continue to follow the situation in the Central African Republic with serious concern," said Martin Nesirky, a UN spokesperson, at the daily briefing on Wednesday.

"We are calling on both the government and the rebels to focus on dialogue that can avert violence and lead to a peaceful resolution and respect for the Libreville Comprehensive Peace Agreement," he said.

The 2008 Libreville Peace Agreement was signed by the government and three main rebel groups and helped bring an end to conflicts inside the CAR.

Nesirky made the remarks following the statements of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN Security Council on CAR last week.