UNHCR discusses future with refugees in Chad

The representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) visited the Gaga refugee camp in eastern Chad, where he met with camp leaders on Monday. Darfuri refugee Sadiq Yagoub reported to Radio Dabanga that “Mr Joran”, a representative of the UNHCR, met with the leaders of the camp. He asked them about their future in the camp and in Sudan. Sheikh Juma Ahmed, representative of the camp, responded by saying that the refugees are in need of food, education, health care, security. The refugees working for the organisations in the camp need an increase of their salaries, especially the teachers. He also requested that patients whose conditions cannot be cured in Chad be transferred to other countries. Regarding the future of the Dafuri refugees, the sheikh explained that their return to Darfur is linked with the security in the region. The new settlers should be expelled, perpetrators of crimes be brought to justice, and the villages destroyed by the war have to be reconstructed. He added that “it is the UN that determines the process of return and the compensation for the property the refugees have lost”. Yagoub noted that the UNHCR representative did not comment on the issues brought in. “He thanked all the leaders and their people who attended the meeting.” File photo: Vulnerable refugees to be taken by bus from the border to the new Gaga camp in eastern Chad, 2005 (UNHCR) Related:WFP stops food rations for Gaga refugee camp in Chad: Sheikh (22 January 2014)Darfuri refugees attend workshop on youth and society in Chad’s Gaga camp (21 January 2014)