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Violent fighting in Bangui

After a period of relative calm, violent skirmishes have been breaking out once again in most of the capital Bangui since last Saturday. The climax of the tension led to more than 100 wounded and around 30 killed. At the Complexe Pédiatrique we took in 6 children with injuries from fire-arms. One boy was in a very serious state and later died.

Access to the hospitals is practically impossible for the local population. Throughout the city, armed men are monitoring the barricades. Explosions from heavy weapons and machine-gun shots are heard day and night in every neighbourhood of the capital. Our national staff have enormous trouble getting around, and the few who do make it to the hospital are working up to 48 hours at a stretch.