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Chad + 1 more

Chad: Arrivals from Nigeria in the Lac Region Situation Report No 1 (as of 12 January 2015)

Attachments

Highlights

  • 7,300 people have arrived in Chad from Nigeria since the beginning of January 2015, fleeing attacks by insurgents.

  • The Government of Chad has requested the assistance of aid agencies.

  • An inter-agency assessment mission was organised in the Lac region. Humanitarian needs are numerous, especially in terms of shelter, food and non-food items.

  • Humanitarian assistance has started in shelter, food, protection, health, nutrition, education, and water, hygiene and sanitation sectors.

7,300 People seeking refuge from Nigeria since early January 2015 (Source: Government)

11,300 Nigerian refugees in Chad as of 9 January 2015 (new and older arrivals) (Source: UNHCR)

726 Chadian returnees from Nigeria as of 10 January 2015 (Source: UNICEF)

28,000 Host population (Source : local administrative authorities)

89 Unaccompanied children in host families (Source UNICEF)

Situation Overview

Since the beginning of January, nearly 7,300 people have fled attacks by the Islamist group Boko Haram in the border villages of northern Nigeria (including Baga) to seek refuge in western Chad. Thousands of people are scattered in several villages in the Lac region, where they are being hosted by local communities. According to UNHCR and the Chadian authorities, this brings to 11,300 the total number of Nigerian refugees in Chad, including previous arrivals: 3,297 are in Ngouboua, 4,000 in Alama and Kantarom, 2,000 in Kangalom and 2,023 in Tchoukoutalia. In addition, 726 Chadian who were living in Nigeria have returned to Chad, according to UNICEF. People continue to arrive in Ngouboua by canoe, but at a reduced rate of approximately 20 people per day.

Humanitarian needs are numerous for the new arrivals, as for the host communities, whose resources are limited. The living conditions in host villages are very poor. The most urgent needs identified so far are food, shelter and non-food items (blankets, mattresses, soap, etc.). According to humanitarian sources, the majority of arrivals are women and children given that many men were killed or separated from their families during the attacks or during their displacement. In Ngouboua, 60 per cent of refugees are women and 40 per cent are men. There are also 89 unaccompanied children (UACs), according to UNICEF.

On 7 January, during a meeting organised by the Prime Minister with humanitarian partners, the Government of Chad requested the support of the international and humanitarian community to assist people fleeing Nigeria and host communities. During this meeting, the Government expressed its willingness to open a camp in the Lac region to facilitate the provision of assistance and ensure the security of people arriving from Nigeria.

On 8 January, an inter-ministerial delegation composed of the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of Social Affairs and National Solidarity, and the Minister of Territorial Administration and Public Security visited the Lac region to see first-hand the situation and needs, and reassure people of their support. Chadian authorities have also strengthened the security apparatus in the region, including through the presence of a Chadian-Nigerian joint force and army dedicated to the safety of humanitarian workers.

An inter-agency humanitarian assessment mission visited the area from 6 to 9 January (composed of UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, OCHA, IMC, the Chadian Red Cross (CRT) and the Commission Nationale pour l’Accueil et la Réinsertion des Réfugiés, CNARR) to collect information on the humanitarian needs. Meanwhile, several UN agencies, NGOs and CRT have deployed staff to the Lac region to support Government response efforts.

Given the increase in Boko Haram’s attacks in Nigeria, there is a risk of additional population movements to Chad and of a worsening humanitarian situation. Initial forecasts for 2015 (according to the 2015 Humanitarian Needs Overview in Chad), which foresaw the arrival of 5,000 new Nigerian refugees to Chad, have already been exceeded.

Access to affected areas remains a challenge, given that people are staying on several islands on Lake Chad, some of which can only be reached by boat, and weather conditions can limit the possibilities of movement of humanitarian actors.

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