Darfuri refugees in Chad concerned about food rations, striking teachers

The residents of the Djabal refugee camp in eastern Chad have voiced concern about new UN World Food Programme (WPF) food distribution plans. The camp’s school teachers embarked on a strike on Sunday, in protest against the delayed payment of their salaries.

In a meeting with WFP representatives on Wednesday morning, camp leaders rejected the proposal of the UN food agency to received their food rations through coupons, with which they will be able to purchase food directly from traders in the area.

“The WFP representatives said that it has become difficult to import food,” Radio Dabanga’s correspondent in eastern Chad reported.

The camp elders based their rejection on the inability of merchants to cover the food needs of the 27,000 Djabal camp refugees. “The lorries transporting basic goods face many challenges in reaching the camp and its neighbouring towns during the rainy season.”

The correspondent added that the school teachers in the refugee camp embarked on a strike on Sunday, in protest against the delayed payment of their salaries.

“They have not received their salary of October so far,” he explained. “

The students’ parents have expressed their concerns about their children's classes, and urged the organisation responsible for education in the camp to pay the teachers as soon as possible.