‘Conditions remain unacceptable for Darfuri refugees in Chad’: MSF

Clean water, proper shelter and access to healthcare are still desperately needed for tens of thousands of refugees in Chad, according to the latest report by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The international medical humanitarian organisation has been active among Darfuri refugees in eastern Chad since April, running a health centre in Tissi, a health post in Umm Dukhun and mobile clinic services. “We remain concerned about those who are unable to reach the camps in Chad and are either exposed to ongoing violence or have no access to humanitarian assistance”, says Tom Roth, MSF Operation Manager for Chad. “Most of the returnees and refugees are female-headed households with a large number of youths and children under the age of five, who are particularly vulnerable,” he says. According to the report, medical teams have consulted 4,700 patients. More than 200 children have been treated for malnutrition at inpatient and outpatient feeding centres. It notes that since MSF began supporting the Tissi hospital, 24 per cent of all admissions have been violence-related. MSF has increased its non-food item distribution, with a recent distribution of 2,500 kits in various locations, and is directly supporting the Ab Gadam refugee camp by building 200 latrines and providing a water truck service. “The situation in the camp remains critical with 10 litres of water distributed daily to each person – just half the recommended minimum universally recognised to cover basic needs,” the report cautions. “As the rainy season begins, we are concerned that insufficient access to clean water, hygiene facilities and latrines could lead to an outbreak of diseases such as cholera”, says Jason Mills, MSF Head of Mission in Chad. “We are also seeing increasing levels of malnutrition and fear that the limited food assistance to returnees could exacerbate the situation.” In response to the relocation of refugees from Tissi to Ab Gadam, 30 kilometres away, MSF has split its team to react to the urgent needs of the camp, and will remain in the area to provide emergency response until the end of the rainy season in November. Photo: Relief goods, including water cans, arrive at the MSF base in Tissi, Chad. (By Jason Mills, MSF) Related: UN speeds relocation of Darfur refugees in Chad amid rains, security issues (4 June 2013) Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad lack shelter, safe drinking water (30 May 2013) Reduced WFP rations for Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad (20 May 2013) UNHCR ‘in race against time’ to deliver aid to Sudanese refugees in Chad (17 May 2013) ‘40%’ of Umm Dukhun’s population fled Sudan to Chad (24 April 2013)