Hundreds of muslims in CAR flee to Chad

2014-01-30 180

Their struggle is far from over --

Hundreds of Muslim men, women and children, living in fear in the Central African Republic, are gathered here at the airport in capital city Bangui.

They're ready to escape to Chad.

Inter-religious violence in this majority-Christian nation has killed at least 2,000.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) DISPLACED MUSLIM MAN, MOHAMMED BEN SAID, SAYING:

"There is no change, the situation gets worse from day to day. [Journalist asks: 'Is CAR your home?']. Yes, this is our home. I was born here, I grew up here. I have plenty of Christian friends. They are treating us like foreigners... Yes, we're going to go back to Chad, but I don't have anyone there, I don't know anyone there."

The International Organization for Migration explains ... saying it has already evacuated 4,000 muslims from the country.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) CO-ORDINATION CHIEF FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION (IOM) PROGRAM IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, JAC