Gbiti Explained

Official Name:Gbiti
Pushpin Map:Cameroon
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Cameroon
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Cameroon
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:East Province
Subdivision Type2:Department
Subdivision Name2:Kadey
Subdivision Type3:Communes
Subdivision Name3:Kette
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Population Blank2 Title:Religions
Coordinates:4.7006°N 14.71°W

Gbiti is a border town in the East Province in Cameroon.

Border post

On 16 November 2013, "unidentified gunmen from the Central African Republic (CAR)" attacked the Cameroonian border post at Gbiti. "Seven people died in the attack."[1]

In 2013, the Kimberly Process’ Permanent Secretariat conducted an awareness campaign in the town about the importance of stopping the trade in blood diamonds, which could be used to finance Cameroonian gangs or political violence in the Central African Republic.

Refugee transit center

The town has been impacted by the refugees escaping the Central African Republic.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

As of May 26, 2014, 21,451 refugees from have crossed into Cameroon, and been received at the Gbiti transit center.[7]

Refugees assemble at the Gbiti transit center, and are transported to other locations, such as the refugee camp at Mbilé, located "four hours away by bus."[8]

A YouTube video shot on a mobile phone by a relief worker in April 2014 documents a group of exhausted, malnourished people slowly crossing the river to enter Gbiti.[9] Many refugees have suffered severe injuries in attacks by CAR Anti-balaka rebels.[10] One seven-year-old boy arriving with severe machete injuries was saved by treatment at the nearest hospital, located in Bertoua, three hours' drive away.[11]

Town life

Fuller video coverage of town life is available in a 33-minute French language video by Alexandre Vigot.[12]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ewi. Martin. Terrorism and the threat radical Islam poses to Cameroon. ISS Africa. 2014-06-12. 2013-12-17.
  2. Web site: New mother and baby battle for survival in Cameroon refugee camp. Plan International. 2014-06-11. 2014.
  3. Web site: Crusade against Central African diamonds in cross-border areas of East Cameroon. Business in Cameroon. 2014-06-11. 2014-01-24.
  4. Web site: Insécurité transfrontalière: Comprendre l'attaque de Gbiti à l'Est-Cameroun. CamNews24. 2014-06-11. 2013-11-21.
  5. Web site: Schmitt . Celine . Growing numbers of young CAR refugees arrive in Cameroon with malnutrition . The Cameroon Daily Journal . 2014-06-10 . 2014-05-23 . https://archive.today/20140610012200/http://www.cameroonjournal.com/Growing%20numbers.html. dead. 2014-06-10.
  6. Web site: CAMEROON / CAR MALNOURISHED CHILDREN. UNifeed. 2014-06-11. 2014-05-12.
  7. http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/CMR_CAR_emergency_zoom_28-05-2014.pdf Cameroon: Refugee sites and entry points for new refugees from the Central African Republic, May 28, 2014
  8. Web site: Brothers reunite with mother after ordeal in Central African Republic. UNHCR. 2014-06-12. 2014-05-27.
  9. Web site: Australia for UNHCR. CAR: Cameroon River crossing from Central African Republic. YouTube. 2014-06-12.
  10. Web site: GBITI-CAMEROON: CAR anti-balaka rebels leave women and children badly hurt. Voxafrica - Video. 2014-06-12. 2014-06-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20140916084503/http://www.voxafrica.co.uk/vod/videos/?v=0_wq3cs2i2&p=1. 2014-09-16. dead.
  11. Web site: Schmitt. Celine. Central African Republic: Rapid Treatment Saves Seven-Year-Old CAR Refugee Chopped and Left for Dead (Page 1 of 2). allAfrica.com. 2014-06-10. 2014-06-06.
  12. Gbiti. Vigot. Alexandre. YouTube. 2014-06-11. French.