The number of people fleeing violence in the Central African Republic continues to grow as tensions remain high. Thousands have fled across the river Ubangi seeking refugee in D.R.Congo. On January 15, the UN refuge agency said the number doubled in just a week to nearly 60,000. As violence simmers, aid organisation warn that the growing insecurity is preventing them from assisting those in need.

The Central African Republic on Thursday announced a 15-day emergency as armed groups tried to blockade the capital Bangui in a bid to topple newly re-elected President Faustin Archange Touadera. The UN envoy to the Central African Republic is calling for a substantial increase in peacekeeping operations. The foreign minister called for the weapons’ embargo to be lifted, to allow the government to arm itself against well-armed rebels.

UN members have said that they will consider exemptions on the arms embargo. This comes after the Central African Republic’s Constitutional Court on Monday confirmed the re-election of President Faustin-Archange Touadera in the first round of a presidential election on December 27 with 53.16% of the vote. The self-styled Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) has threatened to over-run the capital, Bangui, and is seeking to overthrow Touadera.