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Someone shows a bullet that landed on France's property in Damala, a neighbourhood parallel to the road where the fighting happened on 13 January 2021.

France Beldo, 31, was wounded during this clash between rebel groups and the national forces supported by their international allies on the outskirts of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic.

Another bullet is still lodged in her shoulder. France says: "We cannot stay in such violence all the time, with the sounds of guns. Fear is winning people over. We cannot go out, if we do, we are always fearful."
Someone shows a bullet that landed on France's property in Damala, a neighbourhood parallel to the road where the fighting happened. France was wounded during a clash between rebel groups and the national forces supported by their international allies on the outskirts of Bangui. Central African Republic, January 2021.
© Adrienne Surprenant / Collectif ITEM/MSF

A visual journey through a year of renewed violence in an old conflict

Someone shows a bullet that landed on France's property in Damala, a neighbourhood parallel to the road where the fighting happened. France was wounded during a clash between rebel groups and the national forces supported by their international allies on the outskirts of Bangui. Central African Republic, January 2021.
© Adrienne Surprenant / Collectif ITEM/MSF
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In late 2020, violence once again struck Central African Republic (CAR), a country that has undergone decades of intermittent conflict. We look back at some key moments through a photo essay consisting of eight chapters.

From people displaced by war; to sexual violence that is exacerbated by conflict; to emergency needs across the country; and repeated attacks on medical care; we take a look at the journeys of patients and those who have suffered through the conflict. We also highlight how our teams have supported the most vulnerable by providing essential healthcare, often under very difficult circumstances.

Tanguina Chela, one of 1.4 million people displaced from their homes in CAR “Since I was seven years old, the same story has always repeated itself. I have been on the move a long time due to the war. I have lost my belongings, my farmland, everything… I have children, but I don’t even know how I will feed them.”
Tanguina Chela, 25, was forced to flee her home and now lives in the town of Kabo, in northern Central African Republic.
Tanguina Chela, 25, was forced to flee her home and now lives in the town of Kabo. Central African Republic, June 2021.
© Igor Barbero/MSF
Amina braids her granddaughter's hair, while her daughter prepares food a few meters away.
Amina braids her granddaughter's hair in the compound of the mosque of Bambari, where several thousand internally displaced people sought refuge after their camp was destroyed. Central African Republic, August 2021. 
© Lys Arango
Charlotte (not her real name), an 18-year-old survivor of sexual violence from Bangui “After the assault, I thought I would take my own life.” Charlotte is one of 9,000 survivors of sexual violence who has received medical, psychological and psychosocial care at MSF’s Tongolo centre.
Charlotte, 18-years-old, (name changed for protection) poses for a portrait in the garden of the Tongolo centre on 30th November 2020. After her mother died and she was abandoned by her father, Charlotte lived at her aunt’s house until she was raped by her uncle. Her older sister brought her to the Tongolo service in the community hospital, one of the locations where the project is housed, but it was too late for many preventive medications or for her to use the morning-after pill.
Charlotte, 18 years old, (name changed for protection) poses for a portrait in the garden of the Tongolo centre. After her mother died and she was abandoned by her father, Charlotte lived at her aunt’s house until she was raped by her uncle. Her older sister brought her to the Tongolo centre in the community hospital. Central African Republic, November 2020. 
© Adrienne Surprenant/Collectif Item for MSF

For the full visual story visit our exposure page.