ReliefWeb

The health situation in several IDP-sites around Goz Beida is worrying; mainly due to overcrowding. Quick action is needed in order to prevent a diarrhoea/cholera outbreak during the rainy season. UNICEF is part of the contingency plan that has been set up against Cholera and Hepatitis E.

Being cluster leader for Education, WES and Nutrition UNICEF actively participated in the workshop organized by OCHA to strengthen the cluster approach for IDP-action in Eastern Chad.

UNICEF RESPONSE

1. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

UNICEF assures the management of 3 pumping stations around Goz Beida in cooperation with Oxfam GB, and 2 pumping stations in Koukou/Habile. Each pumping station produces on average 60 to 80 cubic meters of water per day serving around 6,000 IDPs and host populations. A pump maintenance system was put in place for 5 water systems and over 50 hand pumps. Change of oil and minor reparations are done once a month.

The rehabilitation of 4 hand pumps was launched at the IDP sites of Habile and Goz Beida in collaboration with NGO partner INTERSOS and the private enterprise ETECOGE.

In terms of environmental sanitation 50,000 soap bars, 900 jerry cans, 2,800 basins and 200 boxes for water purification sachets were given to OXFAM GB, 20 image boxes and 35 wheelbarrows to Oxfam Intermon for hygiene promotion at Habile III.

62 plastic sheets were delivered to INTERSOS in order to construct the superstructure of 170 latrines at Aradip.

With regard to the increase in diarrhoea cases at Habile III and Koloma, UNICEF and its' partners COOPI and INTERSOS have launched a four-fold line of activity - water analysis, chlorination of water points and bladders, hygiene education and soap distribution. In cooperation with the NGO INTERNEWS hygiene sensitization messages are broadcast in French, Arabic and Dadjo.

2. Health and Nutrition

Within the sanitary district of Am-Dam/Haouich a multi-antigen immunisation campaign has been organized targeting children of IDP-sites and 10 host villages. 1,139 children aged 0-59 months have been vaccinated against polio, 900 children aged 6-59 months were supplemented with Vitamin-A, 1,112 children aged 9-59 months were de-wormed and 1,676 children aged 6 months-14 years were vaccinated against measles.

In order to cover the needs for supplementary feeding in the 12 refugee camps 105 cartons of plumpy nut, 131 cartons of BP-5 and 5 cartons of F100 were delivered to the local health centres, together with vaccination cards for 500 children. A refrigerator was delivered to the health centre of Haouich. 3. Education

Since 2 May a nation-wide strike of Chadian civil servants has affected schools in the host communities whilst activities continue normally in refugee camps and IDP sites.

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 IDP sites 3,105 IDPs and host community children are registered, 1,515 of them are girls. A new school has been opened this month at Habile III adding 1,273 children.

39 teachers for schools in the IDP sites of Gouroukoun, Koubigou, Sanour, Abchour, Koukou and Habile have been trained by NGO partner JRS. Under the principle Training of Trainers reconstitution sessions for/by community teachers are currently underway in all 12 refugee camps.

The construction of 5 hangars at the IDP site of Gassire is terminated, whilst the erection of 4 new classrooms at Aradip is underway, as well as 3 classrooms for Habile III.

24 kindergartens have been built in the camps of Mile (4), Kounoungo (4) Iridimi (5) and Ouré Cassoni (11); the construction of 58 additional ones is underway.

Material (tables, blackboards, mats, uniforms, pens, chalk, exercise books) has been delivered to 4 schools of the Essential Learning Packet in the Dar Sila Department, as well as to 7 schools in IDP sites and 75 schools in refugee camps - priority was given to schools built by UNHCR.

4. Protection

UNICEF and Child Protection NGOs have been given unrestricted access to the military installations in Mongo (Region of Guera). They identified and registered 400 children associated with armed forces, most of whom originate from the conflict affected area of Guereda.

Technical and financial support has been provided to the National High Commission for De-mining in the organisation of UXO-sensitization training for humanitarians based in Eastern Chad.

Within the last 6 weeks 5 victims benefited from medical care at Koubigou through a UNICEF- supported SGBV project implemented with COOPI in IDP sites and refugee camps around Goz Beida.

5 PEP kits have been distributed and prepositioned in Goz Beida, Assoungha and Abéche for rapid response.

Sensitization of parents and local authorities on child-rights are ongoing. A committee comprising UNICEF, INTERNEWS, HCR, JRS, HIAS, INTERSOS and the Education Delegation has been set up at Goz Beida, in order to prepare IEC-messages on child rights to be broadcast through the local radio as part of the celebration of the Day of the African Child on 16 June.

5. HIV/AIDS

5 listening centres have been inaugurated in the second half of May in the camps of Bredjing, Treguine, Farchana, Djabal and Goz-Amer. Material for HIV/AIDS sensitization has been delivered to the 40 schools of the Essential Learning Packet in the Quaddai and Wadi Fira regions.

A plan aiming for harmonized action of UN and NGOs in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention has been launched, associating UNICEF, HCR, COOPI, Oxfam GB, IRD and the 'National Council of Youths against HIV' (CONAJELUS). 8 IDP-sites and the town of Goz Beida are targeted for the remaining part of 2007. Technical support to centres for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) is ongoing.