Nearly a million flee violence in Central African Republic

Azadeh Ansari, CNN
6 minute read
Updated 9:48 AM EST, Wed January 8, 2014
A Central African Republic police officer chases looters attacking a broken-down truck Friday, February 7, in the capital of Bangui. The country, a former French colony, was plunged into chaos last year after a coalition of mostly Muslim rebels ousted President Francois Bozize.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
A Central African Republic police officer chases looters attacking a broken-down truck Friday, February 7, in the capital of Bangui. The country, a former French colony, was plunged into chaos last year after a coalition of mostly Muslim rebels ousted President Francois Bozize.
Jerome Delay/AP
Warning: Graphic images (multiple)
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
Members of the Central African Armed Forces lynch a man suspected of being a former Seleka rebel Wednesday, February 5, in Bangui.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
Members of the Central African Armed Forces lynch a man suspected of being a former Seleka rebel Wednesday, February 5, in Bangui.
ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images
A Central African Armed Forces member kicks the man suspected of being a former Seleka rebel.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
A Central African Armed Forces member kicks the man suspected of being a former Seleka rebel.
ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images
A woman runs for cover as heavy gunfire erupts in the Miskin district of Bangui on Monday, February 3.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
A woman runs for cover as heavy gunfire erupts in the Miskin district of Bangui on Monday, February 3.
Jerome Delay/AP
Men take cover in a restroom as heavy gunfire erupts in Miskin on February 3.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
Men take cover in a restroom as heavy gunfire erupts in Miskin on February 3.
Jerome Delay/AP
A man screams after being arrested in downtown Bangui on Saturday, February 1.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
A man screams after being arrested in downtown Bangui on Saturday, February 1.
Jerome Delay/AP
A Christian fighter walks by houses burned by ex-Seleka forces in Bogoura, a small town in the Central African Republic, on Sunday, January 19. The Seleka have been forced out of power since the coup, but Christian militias, known as the anti-balaka, have been allowed to fill the power vacuum, Amnesty International said, with dire consequences for Muslim civilians.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
A Christian fighter walks by houses burned by ex-Seleka forces in Bogoura, a small town in the Central African Republic, on Sunday, January 19. The Seleka have been forced out of power since the coup, but Christian militias, known as the anti-balaka, have been allowed to fill the power vacuum, Amnesty International said, with dire consequences for Muslim civilians.
ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images
Muslim civilians prepare to board trucks in Bangui to flee the capital on Saturday, January 18.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
Muslim civilians prepare to board trucks in Bangui to flee the capital on Saturday, January 18.
ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images
A truck packed with Muslim civilians and their belongings leaves Bangui on January 18.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
A truck packed with Muslim civilians and their belongings leaves Bangui on January 18.
ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images
Security volunteers use sticks to fend off people trying to enter a food and supplies distribution point at a makeshift camp at Bangui M'Poko International Airport on Thursday, January 9.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
Security volunteers use sticks to fend off people trying to enter a food and supplies distribution point at a makeshift camp at Bangui M'Poko International Airport on Thursday, January 9.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
A French soldier waves to children as his jeep patrols the area between an airstrip and a makeshift displacement camp at M'Poko International Airport on January 9.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
A French soldier waves to children as his jeep patrols the area between an airstrip and a makeshift displacement camp at M'Poko International Airport on January 9.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
A French soldier and an African Union peacekeeper from Burundi patrol the Galabadja district of Bangui on Saturday, January 4. While insecurity continued to reign in many areas of the city, certain neighborhoods were tentatively reopening and some residents returning, at least during daylight hours.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
A French soldier and an African Union peacekeeper from Burundi patrol the Galabadja district of Bangui on Saturday, January 4. While insecurity continued to reign in many areas of the city, certain neighborhoods were tentatively reopening and some residents returning, at least during daylight hours.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
An African Union peacekeeper from Burundi participates in a joint patrol with French forces in the Fouh neighborhood of Bangui on Janurary 4.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
An African Union peacekeeper from Burundi participates in a joint patrol with French forces in the Fouh neighborhood of Bangui on Janurary 4.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Displaced people walk amid makeshift shelters at a camp abutting M'Poko International Airport on January 4.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
Displaced people walk amid makeshift shelters at a camp abutting M'Poko International Airport on January 4.
Rebecca Blackwel/AP
Children crowd around a volunteer who's distributing rice porridge at a makeshift camp at M'Poko International Airport on Friday, January 3. Escalating violence in the Central African Republic is posing a threat to children, with at least two beheaded and thousands recruited as soldiers, the United Nations said.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
Children crowd around a volunteer who's distributing rice porridge at a makeshift camp at M'Poko International Airport on Friday, January 3. Escalating violence in the Central African Republic is posing a threat to children, with at least two beheaded and thousands recruited as soldiers, the United Nations said.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, center right, speaks to a wounded soldier in a medical tent during a visit to the M'Poko Camp in Bangui on Thursday, January 2. France has sent 1,600 troops into the Central African Republic to assist African troops.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, center right, speaks to a wounded soldier in a medical tent during a visit to the M'Poko Camp in Bangui on Thursday, January 2. France has sent 1,600 troops into the Central African Republic to assist African troops.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
People displaced by violence attempt to create a semblance of normal life in a sprawling camp at M'poko International Airport on January 2.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
People displaced by violence attempt to create a semblance of normal life in a sprawling camp at M'poko International Airport on January 2.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
A medical worker checks the injuries of a man who has been struck by gunfire. The man was treated at a Doctors Without Borders clinic inside a makeshift camp in Bangui on January 2.
Crisis in the Central African Republic —
A medical worker checks the injuries of a man who has been struck by gunfire. The man was treated at a Doctors Without Borders clinic inside a makeshift camp in Bangui on January 2.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP