Stuck in a highly volatile security context, the situation of the Darfuri refugees who recently arrived in the region of Birak, Chad, is extremely worrying. With fighting ongoing a few kilometres away from their settlement, their life is still at risk, not mentioning the situation of many people that remain in targeted areas in Darfur. Insecurity is also hampering relief efforts to the area and if the refugees do not receive basic assistance in the coming weeks, their health situation could worsen rapidly.
The situation in the Birak region, in eastern Chad, remains highly volatile. Fighting is now taking place a few kilometres away from the border. People who have settled in the area of Birak are still at risk, with reports of violence against women who return to Sudan at night to look for cattle, food, water or family members.
In Darfur, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams have not yet been able to access the Seleia area and assess the situation after the recent attacks on the region. According to the refugees in Chad, a number of people sought refuge in the Jebbel Moon Mountains, an area were fighting was reported last Monday, raising concerns for the fate of civilians there.
Emergency assistance and insecurity
Following the recent bombing and attacks on the area of Seleia, in Darfur, several thousand people sought refuge in neighbouring Chad in the Birak area. People who managed to cross the border are very traumatised. A lot of families are now separated, and have no news of those who were left behind in Darfur.
MSF teams immediately set out to evaluate the needs of the refugees in the Birak area. Between 7000 and 8000 people have been identified, scattered over several sites in the surrounding area. Some of them have been able to bring little belongings with them (animals, some food) and they have received some assistance from the local population. Their situation however remains precarious.
MSF and a few other organisations have provided the most urgent assistance, ensuring medical care and distributing food and relief items such as plastic sheeting, jerry cans, soap and blankets. During the last week however, teams had to be evacuated due to insecurity. If the refugees do not receive basic assistance in the coming weeks, their situation could worsen rapidly.
| In Eastern Chad, MSF provides primary and secondary health care, psychosocial care, water and sanitation to Sudanese refugees and to Chadian either displaced or resident in Abeche, Adre, Farchana, Goz Beida, Dogdoré, Guereda, Iriba and Am Timam. From Guereda, our teams support four neighbouring health centres including the one in Birak. |
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