CERF allocates US$ 4.7 million to to provide humanitarian assistance to Chadian refugees
20 February: An estimated 30,000 Chadian refugees crossed into north-eastern Cameroon following the outbreak of fighting in N’Djamena, Chad, between a coalition of Chadian opposition armed groups and the Government of Chad in early February 2008. However, many have returned to Chad. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that 10,000 Chadian refugees in the Cameroonian town of Kousseri in addition to an estimated 10,000 locals are affected by the crisis. As there are no adequate structures in Kosseri, the Cameroonian border town that hosts the refugees, to respond to the crisis, UNHCR has equipped the camp in Maltam, 32 km away from the border, where it has relocated over 5,500 refugees and many more are expected to join them in the coming weeks.
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| Chadian children refugees in Kousseri [Photo: WFP] |
UNHCR is providing the refugees with basic non-food items such as plastic sheeting, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, cooking stoves, soap and sanitary items and 20 liters of water per person. It is also supplying sanitation facilities (garbage, latrines, and drainage) and primary health care through camp health centers.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is using a CERF grant to provide immediate food aid to Chadian refugees. Dry rations are being supplied through regular distributions to 10,000 Chadians and 10,000 affected locals in Kousseri. WFP is also having the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) support the work of humanitarian workers in Cameroon by increasing flights from Cameroon’s capital city, Yaounde to areas sheltering refugees.
CERF allocations totalling $843,000 are enabling the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to implement six different projects. The UN agency is mounting two mass immunization campaigns for 20,000 Chadian refugees and 10,000 members of host populations, all of them women and children. UNICEF is also supporting maternal and neo-natal care for 11,200 women in Kousseri by supplying clean delivery and emergency health kits, delivery beds, mosquito nets, anti-malaria drugs and other health provisions. Another programme is seeking to provide 15 litres of drinking water per day and access to proper sanitation facilities to 10,000 people in transit camps. The UN agency is also supplying 500 children under five and 125 pregnant and breastfeeding women suffering from acute malnutrition with therapeutic foods, micronutrient supplements and essential drugs. Another project is supporting the primary school education of 3,500 kids by providing temporary learning spaces, materials for classrooms and other equipment. Finally, UNICEF is supporting a programme to prevent violence against women and children and the separation of kids from their caregivers, targeting 10,000 Chadian refugees and 10,000 locals.
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is using CERF funds to address reproductive health needs, gender-based violence, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS transmissions in the refugee area. It is supplying emergency and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, emergency training of medical professionals and community health workers to respond to rape cases and sensitization of health workers on HIV/AIDS. UNFPA is also distributing male and female condoms as well as providing family planning to women and youth in refugee camps at no cost.
To meet Chadian refugees’ health needs, the World Health Organization (WHO) is controlling the potential outbreak of disease in the refugee camp on the host population of Kousseri. It is training health workers in case management of epidemic disease and sensitizing people on preventative measures and hygiene. WHO is also providing technical support and monitoring the immunization campaign against measles and polio while reinforcing surveillance of potential epidemic disease.
A UN Department for Security and Safety (UNDSS) CERF funded project is establishing a safe environment for humanitarian relief operations, through coordination with law enforcement authorities, and advising of UN and international NGOs on safety and security issues. UNDSS is also publishing a daily situation report, conducting security meetings and training and assessment, and coordinating 24-hour response to all security related incidents involving UN staff and international NGOs.
[Last Update: 28 February 2008]
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