CAR crisis: Rwandan peacekeepers open humanitarian corridor

One of the trucks carrying humanitarian aid to Bangui from the Cameroonian border escorted by the Rwanda peacekeepers

Rwandan forces serving in the African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA) have opened a humanitarian corridor at the Cameroon-Central African Republic border, at 700 kilometers from Bangui.

The forces carried the first ever assortment parked in a convoy of 70 Lorries and 30 vehicles intended for aid to Central African residents who have almost lost everything due to the increasing crisis in their country.

Reports indicate that Bangui had run short of humanitarian and other goods with the supply route from Bangui to Cameroon border cut-off by different armed groups who were disarmed by the Rwandan forces recently.

MISCA Force Commander, Brig Gen Martin Tumante led the entourage which also received a warm welcome from the residents.

Since their deployment on January 16, Rwandan forces have managed to intervene in the crisis by securing 37 civilians under attack to safety, recovering looted property and ammunitions and most importantly also trying to bring both the Muslim and Christian communities to a roundtable to sort out their differences.

Apparently, the UN Human Rights says the security situation in CAR is getting worse despite the inauguration of a new leader, and about a million people – 20 percent of the population – have fled their homes during months of religious violence, after rebels seized power last March.