Stop militia attacks on families

Christian residents of Bangui, Central African Republic sheltering at the airport in December 2013. Nearly half a million people, most of them Christians, were displaced in the capital that month alone.

Tracy, Amnesty's crisis team in the Central African Republic took this photo of families fleeing the assaults and execution-style killings that have plagued the country since clashes between Christian and Muslim militias and forces loyal to past political leaders plunged the nation into chaos. Two-thirds of the capital city of Bangui moved to makeshift tent towns, like this one by the airport – where a paltry number of peacekeepers had been stationed. Roving bands of militiamen – like those pictured right – continue to carry out violent attacks to drive Muslims from the country while Christians are killed in reprisal attacks by both elements of the former Muslim-dominated armed insurgency or Christian militias who accuse them of protecting Muslims. Amnesty is working to end the crisis by documenting the ethnic cleansing and other human rights abuses affecting all sides in the conflict, and working to ensure that more peacekeepers are deployed to protect lives immediately. Support our emergency crisis work with a donation. Sincerely, Natalia Taylor Bowdoin Central African Republic Country Specialist Amnesty International USA