CAR returnees starting over in Chad
EU and UN working together to support returnees from Central African Republic and host communities in Chad
Over 60 000 returnees and refugees coexist with local communities in Southern Chad. After fleeing violence, facing displacement and instability, everyone now shares a desire of peace and self-reliance. Take a glance at their life stories in 10 photos.
“We used to live in the bush around Bossangua, in CAR, when violence started. We left our cattle and fled. Today, our life has changed. My 7 years-old son goes to school for the first time and I come here to immunise my children. In the bush, we didn’t have that.” Salma Kiridjo, 22, has 4 children.
In the village of Yenko, at the border with CAR, returnees, refugees and host communities are living together. The influx of population is another burden for an already impoverished region. WFP and OXFAM are organising distributions of food vouchers for vulnerable households.
“In school, we are mixed but we play together and help each other if we need pens or paper” Croyance, 10 is a returnee from Central African Republic. She lives in Djako returnee site near Moundou.
“I spent a year without education because of war. I want my sisters to go to school because we are the future” Idriss and his sister Malka Zakaria, 16 and 7, are returnees from Central African Republic living in Danamadja returnees site.
Thanks to the support of the European Union, UNICEF is building and rehabilitating over 50 water points and building hundreds of latrines in CAR returnees sites and surrounding villages.
“Here, the water is clear and it tastes good !” Martha, 16, lives in Ramadja, 2 km from the CAR returnee site of Danamadja. The water point in this village is a relief for the local communities and newly settled populations.
“We lost all our cattle when fleeing from CAR. We just want our children to live in peace” Saleh Ousmane is a nomad installed in the small village of Ramadja since he fled the violence.
“I learned a new job, I am a blacksmith now”. Ahmad, 28. In order to promote the socio-economic reintegration of returnees, UNHCR and its partner LWF accompany income-generating activities. Sewing workshops, a bakery, a butcher and a forge flourished thanks to the hard work of returnees and support from the European Union.
“We work hard to make these clothes and support our families”. Achta, 33. Different income-generating activities were accompanied in Danamadja returnee site. This sewing workshop was set up by the women’s association “Bafana”.
Young boys playing football in the Child Friendly Space of Danamadja returnee site where children are benefiting from psychosocial support and recreational activities thanks to support of the EU. At the end of the day, and despite the hardships they are facing, children still have the right to play.
Thanks to the support of the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace of the European Union, the United Nations is addressing the different needs of the returnees and host communities in Southern Chad. Together with the Government of Chad, NGOs and local communities, we work to improve quality basic social services and living conditions of affected populations.
