Movement of Sudanese refugees restricted in eastern Chad

Refugees living in Touloum and Ardemi camps in eastern Chad have denounced the restriction on their movements to five kilometers from the camps.

Speaking from the refugee camps, Haidar Suleiman Gardia told Radio Dabanga on Thursday that the local authorities' decision forbids camp residents from going out to farm or search for work. People living in the camp face difficult humanitarian and economic conditions.

Whoever does not abide by the restriction will be subjected to a punishment, Gardia said.

Sudanese refugees in the camps of eastern Chad have complained about a shortage of food because of the reduced food rations and delays of the food distribution. Head of Treguine camp, Ali Yagoub, told Radio dabanga that that the World Food Programme has reduced the rations provided per capita several times, “until it has become the little amount that can hardly suffice as meals for three days.

“The reduction of the rations and delay of the distribution have caused great suffering similar to a famine,” the camp head said. He demanded the WFP to speed up feeding the refugees in order to avoid a disaster.