OVERVIEW
Security
The security situation in Eastern Chad has become increasingly unstable. In spite of a reinforced police presence, crime continues to rise in the town of Abeche, amplifying the number of armed civilians that respond to the attacks. In the Dar Sila region interethnic tensions between the Tamas and Zaghawas are further swelling, constituting an increasing risk for the local population.
Humanitarian Developments
The number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Dar Sila and Quaddai regions is today estimated at 146,896, according to intermediary results of a profiling exercise undertaken in 14 sites by INTERSOS, UNHCR and ICRC in April/May.
About 45,000 Chadians have moved into Sudan in the last three months. Gathered in camps near the Sudanese border post of Foro Baranga, West Darfur, they appear to be Arab nomads but it is not clear for the moment if they are refugees fleeing conflict in Chad or just crossing the volatile border.
UNICEF RESPONSE
1. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
A second pumping station is now operational at Habile, where the number of IDPs is estimated at 25,466 after the recent influx of populations from Tiero and Marena. With regard to the leeway of further movements, the planning of five manual pumping stations is underway with OXFAM GB, aiming to extend the existing infrastructures and to guarantee a minimum of 12 liters/person/day.
Within the same site the construction of 90 emergency latrines is in progress with OXFAM Intermon.
Hygiene education and training on water-quality monitoring are on-going within all IDP sites.
2. Health and Nutrition
At the regional hospital of Abeche a therapeutic feeding centre is now operational thanks to UNICEF support which will aide 2,500 severely malnourished children.
De-worming, vitamin A and iron have been delivered to the health centre of Salamat for 2,400 children aged 0-59 months and 588 pregnant women. Amoxicillin for 1727 children and 432 women has been provided to the health centre of Ameylouna.
In terms of pre-positioning, medication and material have been delivered to NGO partners AfriCare and IRD for the de-worming of 9.523 children, vitamin-A supplementation of 722 children and DTC/BCG/VAT/Polio/Anti-Amaril vaccines for 4,800 children and 1206 pregnant women. IFRC has been provided with 5,000 syringes and MSF Luxembourg with 1,000 vaccination cards.
The nutritional situation at Ade IDP site, currently hosting 12,000 individuals, is worrying, according to a survey carried out by ICRC that found global malnutrition rates of 65 per cent among children under 5. Discussions are underway with WFP and MSF-Holland in order to quickly make available supplementary feeding.
UNICEF continues to supply material for therapeutic feeding and measles vaccination to health centres in the 12 refugee camps. Centres located in the camps of Goz Amir and Djabal have been equipped to provide care for IDP children affected by severe malnutrition.
3. Education
Currently 62,688 refugee children are enrolled in 75 schools supported by UNICEF in the 12 camps, 30,334 of which are girls. Within the 7 schools located in the IDP sites 3,105 IDPs and host community children are registered. Girls comprise 1,515 of the students.
The first series of teacher trainings in 2007, organized in collaboration with NGO partner JRS has been completed; 981 teachers took part. The same training is now underway in the Sila region.
Within the same area school furniture has been delivered to the 12 schools that are part of the Essential Packet Program, as well as to NGO partners CARE, CORD, Secadev, IRC, INTERSOS for distribution in the 12 refugee camps within the second half of May.
With regard to additional population influx into the Dar Sila region, the construction of five hangars is underway at the IDP site of Gassire; a location has been identified for the erection of four new classrooms at Aradip in order to fully meet the increased needs of displaced populations and host communities.
Building of 82 kindergartens has been launched in the refugee camps of Oure Cassoni, Iridimi, Amnabak and Kounougou. Activities aiming to sensitize parents and community leaders on the importance of autoengagement are ongoing in the 12 refugee camps.
4. Protection
Together with NGO partners JRS and CARE Canada, UNICEF is preparing for the announced demobilisation of 384 child soldiers of the ANT at Mongo. Four reintegration centres will be operational at Abeche within the second half of May, each one able to receive about 50 children.
UNICEF is providing support to a mission of the National High Commission for De-mining, currently deployed at Abeche subsequently to two UXO-accidents in the Dar Sila region in April and May.
Together with NGO partner COOPI, UNICEF launched at the end of April a six months project aiming to provide medical assistance to victims of sexual violence and to sensitize local stakeholders on the issue of SGBV in selected IDP sites and refugee camps around Goz Beida.
Some 3,500 IDPs and refugee children aged between 3 and 18 years are presently followed by UNICEF and its' partners IRD, CARE, Secadev and INTERSOS in child friendly spaces.
Complementarily training and sensitization of parents and local authorities on child-rights are ongoing.
UNICEF participates actively in the harmonization efforts of UN and NGO partners aiming for globally recognized IDP figures, as essential requirement for common intervention and advocacy.
5. HIV/AIDS
The construction of three new HIV-listening centres in the refugee camps of Farchana, Bredjing and Treguine is complete; the centres have been operational since the beginning of the month.
Technical support has been provided to the National Coordination of Youngsters against HIV/AIDS (CONAJELUS) in the region of Quaddai for the elaboration of an HIV/AIDS sensitization project, targeting IDPs and host populations located around Goz Beida.
An assessment of available ARV medication and reactives for HIV/AIDS testing is underway at the regional hospital of Abeche.
Activities targeting youngsters and community leaders within refugee camps and IDP sites are ongoing, as well as technical support to centres for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT).