Strengthening Humanitarian Coordination in Chad - OCHA 2009

Direct and indirect hostilities between the Chadian government and various local rebel groups; the Chadian government and Sudan; and the Sudanese government and rebel groups in Darfur have led to a grave humanitarian crisis in the already desolate region of eastern Chad. An estimated 260 000 Sudanese refugees displaced by the conflict in Darfur and 185 000 Chadians displaced by the fighting in their own country now reside in camps in eastern Chad putting intense pressure on a host-community of approximately 700 000 people. The resulting strain on local resources including food water grazing land and fuel sources has led to an increased risk of life-threatening disease and malnutrition for all three populations. The security risks associated with the ongoing regional conflict have further affected the lives of beneficiary communities who face a continued threat of re-displacement and have complicated the delivery of humanitarian aid. With CIDA support the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is maintaining four sub-offices in eastern Chad. The sub-offices provide assistance to humanitarian operations supporting refugees internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees. In addition OCHA is advocating for action to address the growing problem of criminality; for enlarging the humanitarian space needed for aid organizations to fully implement their programmes; and for maintaining the civilian and humanitarian character of displaced IDP sites and refugee camps. OCHA is devoting special attention to ensuring that there is no misunderstanding between programmes implemented by humanitarian organizations and those of non-humanitarian (military) organizations.