They fled Central African Republic…
In a few days between the end of 2017, beginning of 2018:
Mballa village, south of Chad, population: 3 669 people.
Number of Refugees: more than 2 000.
The number of refugees depicts a tragic new chapter in the history of the Central African Republic.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is providing emergency food assistance. The UN Refugee Agency is setting up temporary shelters. The drilling of a new borehole should provide access to more water. There were two public taps in this village. That was not really sufficient for the villagers. It’s simply untenable with the influx of thousands of refugees.
Most of those who fled the recent fighting in the CAR are happy to be safe and alive but they have nothing left. Families have been separated : men and women unsure of the whereabouts of their spouses.
The majority here are women, alone with their children. Many are sleeping outside under the shade of mangos trees.
Laura arrived in Chad at the end of December 2017 with her five kids. The youngest, Estar, is only 5 months old. She doesn’t know where her husband is since a groups of Seleka fighters, one of CAR’s armed militias, attacked their village.
She received highly nutritious biscuits for the kids but food is scarce. She will be able to receive more food assistance from WFP once UNHCR registers her as a refugee.
Coughing is a common noise here.
Two-year-old Seraphin is crying and coughing. Her mother soothes him and prepares to give him a concoction made from leaves to cure his sore throat. Medications are not easy to find here.
Djija Ousmane is eight months pregnant; her daughter is deaf and mute; she has no news from her husband.
For the host community it’s a heavy burden but Djana, the village chief, and Isidore, his secretary, are willing to ensure a peaceful coexistence between refugees.
Issoufa, 56 years old, was a tailor and taught in a koranic school in his village. When suspected Anti Balaka militia attacked his village, he fled across the border to Chad. He left everything behind. A local trader gave him some rice for his 7 kids.
“In Chad, I feel safe for my family”
Laouan Kola, father of 12, shared the fate of many herders whose cattle has been stolen in CAR. He lost everything.
Doholo Camp, south of Chad : 2 881 refugees.
In a few days the figures increased to more than 4 000.
Life is slightly better for refugees who have been transfered to the Doholo camp. They are provided with vouchers that enable them to receive food assistance.
Kadija Kabi, a 31-year-old, mother of seven children is among those who have received vouchers. Her husband is still in Paoua, in the northeast of CAR, where violence erupted in late December. She believes it’s too dangerous for her to return now. She has set up a small open-air restaurant with the help of her husband’s family who live near the border between CAR and Chad.
Amadou Saadou has also received vouchers; in the camp he has set up a little stall.
Gondje Refugees Camp, south of Chad, 4517 people.
Most of the refugees who are living in Gondje arrived more than ten years ago. Funding constraints mean that only the most vulnerable are receiving assistance. Some of the refugees here are self-reliant.
Some of the new refugees have found shelter here too by re-uniting with relatives. These newcomers depend on the generosity of their more established compatriots.
Alexis owns a few cattle; he shared seven bags of sorghum (out of the 15 he harvested from his field) with the newcomers.
Sarah, who has been a refugee in Chad for 12 years, is also displaying the same spirit of generosity. She is hosting Ruth, her four-year-old daughter Melissa and severall other refugees.
WFP Chad can assist the refugees in Chad with the support of Canada, China, DFID, Echo, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, UNCERF, United States of America.
Text & Photos : WFP/Nathalie Magnien
