AFRICA/CHAD - Refugees from Sudan and Central African Republic

N’Djamena (Fides Service) - People continue to cross the insecure border which separates Chad from Sudan: every day between 100 and 125 more Sudanese refugees arrive at Gaga camp in east Chad. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees UNHCR says insecurity in Chad is pushing Chad citizens in search of security across the border into the Sudanese region of Darfur. There is growing instability in the region where refugees are crossing the border in both directions.
Since January a total 3,600 new arrivals have been registered at Gaga camp in east Chad, 1,500 in February alone. Sudanese arriving at Gaga say they left Darfur or the border zone fearing attacks by Janjaweed militia or other armed groups on both sides of the border. From the border the refugees reach Gaga camps on donkeys, on foot or on trucks. Most carry food supplies for 3-5 days, some bring the animals which were not stolen from them.
In Gaga UNHCR is working with the Chad government, the World Food Programme and other partner agencies to enlarge and improve transit centres and make medical check-ups and distribution of shelters and equipment more effective. Once registered the refugees are assigned a tent and given blankets, mosquito nets, mattresses, water cans and cooking utensils.
Gaga camp can take 20,000 people and at the moment it has 10,000. About 200,000 Sudanese refugees who have fled Darfur since 2003 live in 12 UNHCR camps in east Chad.
Another emergency is the presence of 47,000 refugees from Central African Republic in southern Chad where UNHCR continues to transport refugees from Central African Republic away from the insecure border zone. Since operations started on 22 February, 1,800 people have been transported to camps at Amboko and Gondjé. These are some of 5,000 refugees who have fled Central African Republic since the beginning of February to escape attacks by bandits and violence by rebels and government troops. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 8/3/2006 righe 32 parole 402)