YAOUNDE —
The U.N. secretary-general's special representative for Central Africa, Abou Moussa, is calling for a global response to help the region cope with the impact of the crisis in the Central African Republic.
Moussa, in Cameroon after visiting other countries that share borders with the C.A.R., says sectarian violence has put a heavy burden on the country's neighbors.
He said the number of refugees continues to increase, arms trafficking is at an all-time high and there is total disrespect of human dignity.
"The secretary-general is very concerned about issues ranging from individuals who are not Central Africans who are transiting through here," Moussa told VOA. "We have a high rate of malnutrition along the border, we have refugees, we have the issue of the threat of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups, rape of children, name it. We have all these problems and they deserve our attention."
Moussa said the objective of his visit to Central African countries is to find out how they can jointly manage the fallout.
The U.N. envoy arrived in Yaounde after Cameroon rejected allegations that warring groups in C.A.R., members of the Nigerian radical sect Boko Haram and some terrorist movements were using the country's territory as training ground.
Although he refused to comment on the allegations, Moussa told VOA that the issue will be submitted to the United Nations Security Council.
"You can be in a better position to help on two grounds, one to raise awareness that something is going on somewhere and second you can formulate a global strategy on how best to support the governments, and I will be going back to report to the council on my findings," he explained.
The government of Cameroon says the number of C.A.R. refugees in the country has increased from 50,000 to 150,000 over the past two months.
Moussa, in Cameroon after visiting other countries that share borders with the C.A.R., says sectarian violence has put a heavy burden on the country's neighbors.
He said the number of refugees continues to increase, arms trafficking is at an all-time high and there is total disrespect of human dignity.
"The secretary-general is very concerned about issues ranging from individuals who are not Central Africans who are transiting through here," Moussa told VOA. "We have a high rate of malnutrition along the border, we have refugees, we have the issue of the threat of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups, rape of children, name it. We have all these problems and they deserve our attention."
Moussa said the objective of his visit to Central African countries is to find out how they can jointly manage the fallout.
The U.N. envoy arrived in Yaounde after Cameroon rejected allegations that warring groups in C.A.R., members of the Nigerian radical sect Boko Haram and some terrorist movements were using the country's territory as training ground.
Although he refused to comment on the allegations, Moussa told VOA that the issue will be submitted to the United Nations Security Council.
"You can be in a better position to help on two grounds, one to raise awareness that something is going on somewhere and second you can formulate a global strategy on how best to support the governments, and I will be going back to report to the council on my findings," he explained.
The government of Cameroon says the number of C.A.R. refugees in the country has increased from 50,000 to 150,000 over the past two months.
