UNHCR relocating Sudan refugees to ‘safer areas’ in Chad
A team of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Chad is reportedly relocating thousands of Sudanese and Chadian refugees who fled Darfur tribal clashes to safer areas across the border. Until two weeks ago, at least 50,000 people had fled Sudan to Chad due to fighting between various groups in Central Darfur. UNHCR called it the largest influx of people from Darfur to Chad since 2005.The town of Tissi has received some 23,000 Sudanese and 16,000 Chadians, according to a UNHCR monitoring team working with Chad government officials along a 60-kilometre stretch of border areas.”As a security measure, UNHCR is relocating 5,000 of them to the Goz Amer camp [some 230 kilometers to the north] where we can better provide them with protection and assistance,” said Aminata Gueye, UNHCR’s representative in Chad.She added that a new camp for 25,000 people might be constructed at Sterena, 25 km north of Goz Beida, the largest town in the southeast.The UN agency declared that since mid-April, three of its convoys have taken about 600 people to Goz Amer. The trucks are also transporting the few belongings that people were able to bring with them.It added that on arrival in Goz Amer, refugees are given a monthly dry food ration by the World Food Programme (WFP) and non-food items from UNHCR, including mosquito nets, jerry cans, blankets, mats, soap and kitchen sets.New shelters have been constructed for the arriving families. Additionally, UNICEF is extending the camp’s water distribution network to these areas.The refugees are fleeing tribal clashes that erupted some two weeks ago in Umm Dukhun, Central Darfur, when a Misseriya tribesman allegedly tried looting and opening fire on a Salamat man, who was not hurt.Violent hostilities erupted the next day when 4,000 men of both sides began battling each other. In the meantime, fighting has spread north and to South Darfur.“Torched and looted” A Darfurian refugee who spoke with UNHCR said she left her village “when it was torched and looted”. It took her two days to walk to Tissi, and like many others, she arrived with almost nothing, the agency said.”Under every tree, there is a family,” noted Abdellahi Ould El Bah, UNHCR’s emergency coordinator in Tissi. “The refugees are exposed to the wind and sun during the day and are cold at night,” he said, adding that many did not even have blankets.He said some refugees had been drinking from a river, putting themselves at risk of catching waterborne diseases.The UNHCR team deployed in Tissi includes experts in water, sanitation and hygiene as well as protection, registration and logistics officers.According to the UN agency about 300,000 Sudanese fled to Chad in 10 years of war in Darfur.UNHCR photo: Sudanese refugees from Darfur find shelter under one of the trees in the remote Chad border town of Tissi, where conditions are tough.Related: Ten thousands of Darfurians fleeing Sudan to seek refuge in Chad (13 April 2013)
A team of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Chad is reportedly relocating thousands of Sudanese and Chadian refugees who fled Darfur tribal clashes to safer areas across the border.
Until two weeks ago, at least 50,000 people had fled Sudan to Chad due to fighting between various groups in Central Darfur. UNHCR called it the largest influx of people from Darfur to Chad since 2005.
The town of Tissi has received some 23,000 Sudanese and 16,000 Chadians, according to a UNHCR monitoring team working with Chad government officials along a 60-kilometre stretch of border areas.
“As a security measure, UNHCR is relocating 5,000 of them to the Goz Amer camp [some 230 kilometers to the north] where we can better provide them with protection and assistance,” said Aminata Gueye, UNHCR’s representative in Chad.
She added that a new camp for 25,000 people might be constructed at Sterena, 25 km north of Goz Beida, the largest town in the southeast.
The UN agency declared that since mid-April, three of its convoys have taken about 600 people to Goz Amer. The trucks are also transporting the few belongings that people were able to bring with them.
It added that on arrival in Goz Amer, refugees are given a monthly dry food ration by the World Food Programme (WFP) and non-food items from UNHCR, including mosquito nets, jerry cans, blankets, mats, soap and kitchen sets.
New shelters have been constructed for the arriving families. Additionally, UNICEF is extending the camp’s water distribution network to these areas.
The refugees are fleeing tribal clashes that erupted some two weeks ago in Umm Dukhun, Central Darfur, when a Misseriya tribesman allegedly tried looting and opening fire on a Salamat man, who was not hurt.
Violent hostilities erupted the next day when 4,000 men of both sides began battling each other. In the meantime, fighting has spread north and to South Darfur.
“Torched and looted”
A Darfurian refugee who spoke with UNHCR said she left her village “when it was torched and looted”. It took her two days to walk to Tissi, and like many others, she arrived with almost nothing, the agency said.
“Under every tree, there is a family,” noted Abdellahi Ould El Bah, UNHCR’s emergency coordinator in Tissi. “The refugees are exposed to the wind and sun during the day and are cold at night,” he said, adding that many did not even have blankets.
He said some refugees had been drinking from a river, putting themselves at risk of catching waterborne diseases.
The UNHCR team deployed in Tissi includes experts in water, sanitation and hygiene as well as protection, registration and logistics officers.
According to the UN agency about 300,000 Sudanese fled to Chad in 10 years of war in Darfur.
UNHCR photo: Sudanese refugees from Darfur find shelter under one of the trees in the remote Chad border town of Tissi, where conditions are tough.
Related: Ten thousands of Darfurians fleeing Sudan to seek refuge in Chad (13 April 2013)
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