AFRICA/SUDAN - Flow of refugees in both directions between Chad and Sudan. Growing concern in the international community

Wednesday, 1 March 2006

Khartoum (Fides Service) - There is increasing concern for the situation of insecurity on the Sudan Chad border after the United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR said it was registering movement of people in both directions on the travailed frontier.
A recent UNHCR says “Besides 200,000 refugees from the western Sudan region of Darfur seeking safety in eastern Chad there are reports of Chad citizens fleeing in the opposite direction towards Darfur”. In west Darfur for example between 8,000 and 10,000 people - including an uncertain number of Chad citizens - have gathered in five spontaneous camps around the cities of Galu and Azaza circa 35 km north west of El Geneina the main city in the region.
According to UNHCR and partner agencies these spontaneous camps have appeared in the last two months following bloody attacks last December in and around the city of Adre on the Chad border. At present UNHCR and the Sudanese authorities are investigating the status of the people in these five spontaneous camps mainly women and children. When questioned by UNHCR personnel with regard to the reason for their flight to Darfur, these Chad citizens indicated rebel attacks on Adre on 18 December 2005.
In the fighting between rebels and Chad army forces in Adre over 100 people were reportedly killed. Several successive attacks in villages north of the city caused other people to flee.
The confirmed fact that Chad citizens crossed the border seeking safety in Darfur is a worrying sign of a deterioration of security conditions in areas along the border. UN High Commissioner for refugees António Guterres has repeatedly expressed deep concern for the risk of further destabilisation in the region. At present there are 1.8 million displaced persons in Darfur, and 200,000 refugees from Darfur sheltering in 12 camps in eastern Chad. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 1/3/2006 righe 31 parole 360)


Share: