Thousands of Sudanese refugees in Chad in need of urgent assistance

NAIROBI, Sep 17, 2003 (IRIN) — Thousands of refugees who have fled insecurity in Darfur, western Sudan, and are currently scattered along the border with Chad, are in urgent need of assistance, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

“Thousands of Sudanese refugees, mainly women and children, had to flee their homes and country completely empty handed, and are arriving in Chad in bad shape,” says Sonia Peyrassol, MSF operational coordinator for Chad. “There’s no time to waste, we have to send staff and supplies immediately to respond to the increasing needs.”

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) estimated last week that about 70,000 Sudanese refugees had entered Chad, while hundreds more were “streaming” in. They are scattered in about 20 locations along the border, with many located around Tine and Birak.

MSF said that while no epidemics had been found among the refugees in the desert-like region, respiratory infections and diarrhoea were a problem. Weather conditions were extreme with high temperatures during the day and very cold nights, while the rainy season had not yet ended. Potential health risks were deadly diseases like measles and whooping cough, as well as malnutrition as there was “hardly any food to find”.

“Conditions are in place for a rapid deterioration of the situation,” said MSF. “There is no infrastructure [such as shelter or sanitation] for the reception of refugees, local health centres are empty and the reference hospitals of Iriba and Guereda have no water, no medicines, and no laboratory.”

A 45-day ceasefire agreement effective 6 September has been signed by the government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army rebel (SLA/M) group. The deal, which was brokered by Chad, provides for the control of all armed forces in the region, the release of prisoners of war, the relocation of SLA forces and measures to generate economic and social development in the area.

According to the UN, discussions are currently ongoing between the parties in El Fashir, northern Darfur, and both sides have acknowledged that all prisoners of war have been released by the other side. Areas of relocation for the SLA are currently being identified and the government has put forward proposals regarding the withdrawal of irregular armed forces from the region.

But the SLA says that attacks targeting civilians – either from helicopter gunships, or militia groups – have occurred almost daily since the deal was signed, a charge that the government has denied. While there are no independent observers in Darfur to monitor such allegations, the UNHCR reported last week that hundreds of people were fleeing to Chad “to escape aerial attacks”.

In a separate development, the UN launched an appeal this week for US $22.8 to assist the three states of Darfur which rank among the poorest and most neglected areas of the country.

The aim of the funding was to meet “urgent human survival and welfare needs and to help consolidate peace”, said the appeal document. It would accelerate the provision of humanitarian relief, and “help diffuse immediate triggers to violence” through a fast-track programme focusing on the creation of livelihoods and provision of services.