Over 10,000 people have fled from the northern region of Cameroon into Chad over the weekend. According to Iris Blom, the deputy director for the United Nations refugee agency in Chad, 85% of those fleeing the violence are women and children. The conflict itself is between fishermen and herders in the region and occurred last Tuesday. However, aside from the violence that has already left over one dozen dead and 48 wounded, the clash between two ethnicities could lead to further escalation and displacement.
The dispute is between the Musgum and Arab Choa ethnic groups over the construction of a dam. Musgum fishermen built dams in order to divert fish to increase their yields, entering in direct confrontation with the Arab Choa herders whose cattle were affected by the diversion.
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