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Thu, Mar

United Nations Frowns At Attacks On Hospitals In Central African Republic

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The UN has condemned intimidation of staff and patients by armed groups in the Central African Republic (CAR), who launch repeated attacks in hospitals.

The UN said, Men armed with machetes, knives and other crude weapons entered hospitals in the past few months, with the most recent happening in the town of Bambari.

Terrified relatives had evacuated patients from Bambari hospital even though they still needed medical attention.

BBC reports that the UN said it was unclear who was perpetrating the attacks, suspected of being ethnically motivated.

The conflict has led to a 70% increase in the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) since January 2017, the UN says.

The UN's humanitarian co-ordinator in the CAR, Najat Rochdi, said in a statement he would "hold these armed groups directly responsible for any medical complications and life-threatening conditions of patients."

Humanitarian workers have also been targeted in Bambari, with nine of their compounds attacked and looted last month alone.

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