CHAD: UN HUMANITARIAN CHIEF URGES CONTINUED PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN THE EAST

(Ndjamena/New York, 23 May 2010): John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, visited the Ouaddai region in eastern Chad at the start of his four-day visit to the country. During his visit to Chad, Mr. Holmes will assess the current humanitarian challenges throughout the country; and the humanitarian priorities for the Government, United Nations, humanitarian actors, and donors, in light of the likely withdrawal of the United Nations Mission in Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) and the current food security crisis in drought-affected parts of the country.

During his meeting with the Governor of the Ouaddai region, in Abeche, the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) highlighted a number of key humanitarian issues of concern including banditry, security of refugee camps, the maintenance of the civilian character of refugee and IDP camps and the question of returns of IDPs.

Mr. Holmes also met the humanitarian community in Abeche and discussed the challenges to humanitarian space and concerns over food insecurity in the east. "Whatever our preference might have been, humanitarian actors must prepare themselves to work in a context without an international force," said Mr. Holmes. "I trust that continued and improved security will be ensured by government security forces in eastern Chad so that civilians will be protected and humanitarians can continue to help people in need," he added.

Mr. Holmes visited Bredjing refugee camp located 84 km east of the border with Sudan to meet refugees; many of whom have been there for over six years. Of the 12 Sudanese refugee camps in eastern Chad, Bredjing is the biggest, with more than 33,000 refugees. In addition to the local population, the Assoungha district hosts around 99,000 refugees, 17,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) and more than 10,000 returnees.

"Refugees at Bredjing camp continue to rely on humanitarian assistance for basic services, as they have for the past six years," said Mr. Holmes. "Basic services are being provided; but living in a refugee camp for so long is demoralizing and disempowering for those concerned. Political solutions are urgently needed on the other side of the border to enable the refugees to return safely to Darfur. Meanwhile we also need to do more to support host communities where there are camps."

While the arrival of Sudanese refugees in Chad has stabilized since 2008, refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) continue to enter the country, with 15,000 arrivals in 2009 and 1,100 in April 2010 alone. These arrivals have increased the need for assistance by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its partners.

The total number of refugees in Chad is currently estimated at 341,000, living in 23 camps in eastern and southern Chad. Humanitarian actors are also helping 170,000 IDPs; 35,000 returnees and host communities.

During this third visit since 2007, Mr. Holmes will visit IDPs and returnees in the Dar Sila region of south-east Chad on 24 May, before visiting people affected by food insecurity and malnutrition in the western region of Kanem on 25 May. The mission concludes on 26 May.

For further information, please call: OCHA-Chad: Katy Thiam, +235 620 15 42, thiamk@un.org;
OCHA-New York: Stephanie Bunker, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 347 244 2106, bunker@un.org;
Nicholas Reader, +1 212 963 4961, mobile +1 646 752 3117, reader@un.org,
OCHA-Geneva: Elisabeth Byrs, +41 22 917 2653, mobile +41 79 473 4570, byrs@un.org
OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int