Medical Assistance to Displaced Persons in Eastern Chad - Doctors without Borders 2008

Fuelled by spill-over from Darfur centuries-long simmering tensions between pastoralists and agriculturalists over land and water resources in the south-east of Chad has escalated into open conflict leading to death and massive internal displacement. The porous nature of the border between Chad and Sudan and the existence of clan and/or family loyalties that cross the border have elevated the crisis to the international level with the governments of both countries reportedly supporting rebels on the other side. By October 2006 an estimated 65 000 Chadians had been displaced in eastern Chad. By January 2007 following new border attacks and increased inter-ethnic violence the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) had reached 115 000. Currently the UN estimates the total number of displaced people to be over 180 000. With CIDA support Doctors without Borders provides emergency medical care for an estimated 50 000 IDPs and their host communities in eastern Chad.