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UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The UN mission in the Central African Republic slammed recent attacks against their peacekeepers as violence continued to spread in the war-torn country, a UN spokesman said Monday here.
The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) reported that seven UN police were ambushed and illegally detained by alleged anti-Balaka elements Sunday evening near Boali in Ombella Mpoko prefecture, said Stephane Dujarric at a regular briefing.
The UN police were freed the same night. Also on Sunday, three armed men fired at the peacekeepers in a MINUSCA position in Damara, Ombella Mpoko. One assailant was killed after peacekeepers returned fire. Two other assailants managed to escape, according to the spokesman.
"The mission strongly condemns attacks against its peacekeepers and calls for swift action to bring the perpetrators in both crimes to justice," said the spokesman.
Sectarian conflicts have flared up recently in the CAR, worsening its already severe humanitarian crisis. The capital city of Bangui witnessed attacks against civilians, violence between communities and attacks against humanitarian personnel since a young Muslim man was murdered on Sept. 26.
According to the spokesman, UN humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien will travel to the CAR Tuesday to take stock of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
According to the World Food Programme, nearly 900,000 people are still displaced in the country or have taken refuge in neighboring countries since the start of the conflict in 2013.
