Chad
http://ochaonline.un.org/chadChronic socio-economic crises and political instability have scarred Chad for decades. Since 2003, unrest in neighbouring Darfur (Sudan) has spilled over, resulting in the migration of around 265,000 Sudanese refugees into the east of the country. Armed warfare in north-eastern Central African Republic (CAR) caused an additional influx of more than 55,000 refugees, with 12,000 having arrived in early 2008. Civil war and intercommunal tensions have displaced an additional 185,000 persons within the country. In 2008, armed opposition groups active in eastern Chad and across the border in Darfur launched several attacks against the Government in N’Djamena.
In 2009, OCHA will strengthen its presence in the capital in order to augment its assistance in the south and Kanem regions, where humanitarian needs resulting from chronic malnutrition are increasing. OCHA will improve the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) mid-year review and support Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) proposals for rapid response and underfunded emergencies. In the east, in support of the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator (DHC), OCHA will strengthen inter-cluster coordination to better respond to partners’ coordination needs in the increasingly challenging operational environment. Additional responsibilities include working with the relevant government bodies on preparedness and response to natural disasters – mainly floods. Contingency planning for assistance provision to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees will continue to be worked out and will be integrated into regional planning with Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Sudan.
In the east of the country, OCHA will continue operating sub-offices in Abeche, Farchana and Goz Beida; the Koukou presence will be upgraded into a sub-office, providing assistance to the areas of IDPs and IDP returns. Since the United Nations Mission for Chad and the Central African Republic (MINURCAT) and the European Union Force (EUFOR) were established, coordination of humanitarian assistance to refugees and IDPs has become even more complex, given the multiplicity of actors in the east of the country. While the DHC for the east will continue bringing together all humanitarian actors, the presence of a civil-military coordination officer will complement the range of activities under OCHA coordination.
Because of ongoing banditry in the east and south, international NGOs regularly withdraw staff and suspend activities. In 2009, OCHA will continue to advocate for addressing criminality effectively and enlarge the humanitarian space to enable all aid organizations to fully implement their programmes; and for maintaining the civilian and humanitarian character of IDP sites and refugee camps. Special attention will be devoted to ensuring that there is no misunderstanding between programmes implemented by humanitarian organizations and those of non-humanitarian organizations.
OCHA expects limited returns of IDPs in 2009, in the absence of a settlement across the border in Darfur. Returns are contingent upon IDPs feeling safe and secure in their places of origin as well as on their access to basic social services and state presence. This should be enhanced by the effective deployment of the local Chadian gendarmerie, Détachement Intégré de Sécurité, which is supported by MINURCAT. Following the withdrawal of the EUFOR in March 2009, the effective and immediate deployment of a UN follow-on force should help improve the protection of civilians.
OCHA will continue to support the strategic partnership between the UN Country Team and MINURCAT. OCHA will maintain its civil-military coordination (CMCOORD) capacity to ensure appropriate information-sharing with, and coordination between, the humanitarian community and the MINURCAT and EUFOR as long as it is there. This includes regular capacity-building workshops targeting military personnel and civilian actors stationed in Chad, including representatives of UN agencies, NGOs, inter-governmental organizations, donors, the Red Cross/ Red Crescent Movement, MINURCAT and EUFOR. In cooperation with all UN agencies and MINURCAT, OCHA will continue to support the roll out of clusters and ensure a smooth transition from emergency assistance to early recovery.
Most sectors have been adequately funded in 2008, except for the education and protection sectors. CAP for 2009 will request more than US$ 389 million for life saving and early recovery activities. United Nations agencies will continue to call upon the CERF for rapid response and underfunded projects.
Key Objectives, Outputs and Indicators
