Residents of The Gambia border villages of Ballen, Funtang and Gikess have fled their homes to other villages within Foni and Kombo as Senegalese reinforcements arrived in the area following clashes with MFDC rebels that left two soldiers death.

The internally displaced people, who included women and children, left the area amid fear of continued fighting between the two disputing groups.

Monday’s gun battle erupted after Senegalese ECOMIG contingent stationed in Foni chased off a truck load with timber into the territory of the rebels in the southern region of Senegal, Casamance, who have been fighting for their independence for decades.

Sulayman Sanyang, one of the internally displaced Gambians, said: “we are facing a lot of difficulties as we left all our wealth in Ballen village and sent our women and children to the Kombos.

“Some are in Brikama and others continued their journey to Serekunda. Only us the elders are left here in Kampant until we feel safe to return to our villages.”

Mr Sanyang continued: “We have had no assistance from The Gambia government since the incident happened and we are currently displaced. 

“The Gambia Red Cross Society yesterday morning provided food to the families that left their villages due to the ongoing fighting between the rebels and the Senegalese soldiers in The Gambia.

“We have our livestock and other properties left behind and we are afraid of who will be taking care of those things as there’s no one in the village after everyone left to other settlements within Foni and Kombo. 

“There is no inhabitant in Ballen recently and we don’t know what’s going on in our village and we are afraid to go there.”

 “On Monday night we did not sleep until day break because this really shocked us because we don’t know how our families are coping with the displacement and the conditions of our livestock,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba