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"We
are in a full-on inter-community conflict," said the Cameroonian
regional official, who asked not to be named.
Hundreds of people fleeing the violence between Arab Choa
herders and Mousgoum and Massa farmers have streamed across the
border into neighbouring Chad, the mayor of Chad's capital
N'Djamena, Ali Haroun, told Reuters.
A traditional leader in northern Cameroon, who also asked not to
be named, told Reuters the violence began over access to water.
"The Arab Choa wanted to take their herds to the banks of a
river. The Mousgoum and Massa prevented them," the leader said.
The United Nations refugee agency, which is responding to the
crisis, said in a report in November that reduced rainfall in
the area has dried up rivers and seasonal ponds that communities
depend on, leading to clashes.
Similar violence in August between Choa herders and Mousgoum
fishermen killed dozens of people and forced thousands to flee
to Chad.
"This problem needs to be resolved quickly because a few months
ago, there were already deaths. Today, when there is a problem
between two people from different communities, all the
communities get involved with weapons," the leader said.
Chad's President Mahamat Idris Deby said on Twitter late on
Wednesday that over 30,000 Cameroonians had sought refuge in
Chad, but did not specify if they were all from the latest wave
of violence.
He urged the international community to provide prompt aid to
help Chad deal with the situation.
(Reporting by Josiane Kouagheu and Mahamat Ramadane; Writing by
Bate Felix; Editing by Aaron Ross and Bernadette Baum)
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