Road bandits are harassing populations in the border area between Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic (CAR). Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has opened a healthcare program for Bororo nomads and the local sedentary population in the Touboro area of Cameroon.

Photo: Hiam el Zein /MSF

Humanitarian agencies provide aid in many locations in Cameroon, Chad and CAR, but in the Touboro area, near the junction of the three borders, there is nothing. No NGOs, no reception centres for refugees. Scattered in the bush and barely visible, many Bororo families are fleeing road bandits who kidnap for ransom. Thousands of people need drinking water, food and healthcare. MSF opened a program to provide medical care to around 20,000 Central African refugees and to the local population living in this area.

Pursued by road bandits

“The Bororos are a nomadic tribe; they have been moving around in this area for a long time, sometimes on one side of the border, sometimes on the other side, depending on the needs of their cattle,” explains Ali Ouatarra, MSF head of mission in Cameroon. “But today it’s different. More and more of them are moving to Touboro to escape roadside banditry. They live in the bush, where there is little drinking water, healthcare facilities are nonexistent, and the situation remains unsafe for them.” Roadside bandits, called coupeurs de route, live in CAR and cross the border to carry out kidnappings. Operating in groups of 20, well organized and armed with rifles, they target mostly Bororo cattle breeders. The nomads have already sold many animals in order to pay ransoms of up to 2 million CFA francs. This is equivalent to around 3,000 euros, or the price of four large oxen. The bandits have proved several times that they are ready to kill if the ransom is not paid. “In April a group refused to pay for the liberation of their kinsmen. As a result, the bandits cut the throats of several children,” says Ali. “In June, a village was attacked only 30 km from where we are based. They took the cattle away, abducted the chief and about 10 other people, and stole the cattle. Two people were released in order to deliver the ransom request. I don’t know about the others.”

Improving healthcare

Photo: Hiam el Zein /MSF

Some of the area’s health centers average fewer than seven patients a day. The cost of healthcare, and the lack of medicine and medical equipment dissuade people from coming to health facilities. Diseases such as malaria, respiratory infections and malnutrition are common, as are epidemics such as meningitis and cholera.

MSF’s goal is to provide medical care to Bororo families and to improve access to healthcare for the local sedentary population. MSF rehabilitated a 20-bed health center in Bemboyo, a village near Touboro, in order to be able to hospitalize patients. MSF supports three health centers in the surrounding area, providing staff and medicines, and putting medical protocols in place. A medical team gives free consultations twice a week.