The Bororos, an isolated population harassed by road bandits

Road bandits are harassing populations on the borders between Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic (CAR). Médecins Sans Frontières is running a healthcare program for the Bororos and the local population in the Touboro area, Cameroon.

Humanitarian agencies provide aid in many locations in Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic, but in the Touboro area, just above 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, engaged in kidnapping for ransom. Thousands of people need drinking water, food and healthcare. Médecins Sans Frontières has 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, 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 structures 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 organised and armed with Kalashnikovs, they target mostly Bororo cattle breeders. The nomads have already sold many animals in order to pay ransoms, reaching 1 to 2 million CFA francs, equivalent to around AUD 3290 or the price of 4 big 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

In some of the area’s health centres, average attendance does not exceed seven patients a day. The cost of healthcare, and lack of medicine and medical equipment dissuade people from coming to health structures. Diseases such as malaria, respiratory infections and malnutrition are common, as are epidemics such as meningitis and cholera. Médecins Sans Frontières' goal is to provide medical care to Bororo families and to improve access to healthcare for the local population. Médecins Sans Frontières rehabilitated a health centre in Bemboyo, a village near Touboro, in order to be able to hospitalise patients. The centre has a capacity of around 20 beds. Médecins Sans Frontières supports three health centres in the surroundings, providing staff, medicine and setting up medical protocols. A medical team gives free consultations twice a week in a village where there is no health structure.