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Highlights
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Since 22 July, an estimated 1,300 households totalling approximately 6,000 people arrived from Niger to a new site named Dar al-Kheir. These Arab nomads explained that they fled from the Diffa region out of fear of attacks following the recent withdrawal of Chadian soldiers protecting the area. As of end of July, their status (refugees, returnees or other) was still being discussed.
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The 2017 nutrition SMART survey was launched with a pilot survey on 25 July, and data will be collected through smartphones, reducing errors.
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Four community-based networks for child protection were activated in the border areas of the Lac region with Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria. They will play a major role in promoting child rights and alerting on child protection incidents.
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In Logone Oriental and Moyen Chari regions, affected by the CAR crisis, 191 teachers (26 women, 14%) were trained on psychosocial support, social cohesion and life skills and were further sensitized to gender-based violence.
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Only 0.58 million USD have been received in July for life-saving activities. The overall needs for 2017 are only 35% funded.
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
Population Displacement
Out of 133,172 displaced people in the Lac Region, 106,045 have been registered by UN organizations (90,911 IDPs, 14,810 Chadian returnees and 324 third-country nationals), 12,759 are estimated displaced persons whose status is yet to be determined since January, and 8,368 are Nigerian refugees1. In addition, since 22 July, the Lac region has witnessed an influx from the Republic of Niger for whom status determination discussions are ongoing.
Early estimates indicate that around 1,300 households totalling over 6,000 people have settled on a site they named Dar al-Kheir (welfare land) near Dar es Salaam, the camp hosting the Nigerian refugees outside of Bagasola. The preliminary assessment and registration was carried out by the local authorities and the CNARR, which alerted UNHCR through the Baga Sola Field Office. The new arrivals, part of an Arab nomad community, explained that they fled from the Diffa region (Niger) because of the fear of attacks by Boko Haram fighters following the recent withdrawal of Chadian soldiers protecting the area. They also reported that there were attacks on the village of Tchortchouri in Niger, and that another 10,000 people could arrive in the next few days due to permanent insecurity. During the last week of July, basic humanitarian assistance was provided to the new arrivals including NFIs, food and vaccination, and an HCT mission has been planned for the first days of August to better assess the situation. Coordination is ongoing with national authorities, and the humanitarian community in both Diffa and Baga Sola to understand the situation, ensure the determination of the status of the new arrivals, provide humanitarian assistance and be prepared for possible new influxes.
In the Lac region, the security situation seems to be more stable than during the past months; only minor security incidents, such as alleged Boko Haram incursions in IDP sites and looting by unidentified armed individuals, have been reported. Several persons allegedly surrendering from Boko Haram controlled areas have been reported in the region. Although detailed information on their whereabouts is not readily available, when there are unaccompanied and separated children continue to be referred to UNICEF’s partner the Regional Delegation of social welfare (DRAS) for follow-up and temporary care. UNICEF is training both military forces and local authorities to ensure the seamless referral and the protection of children.
In the South of the country, a new wave of refugees from Central African Republic (CAR) has been reported: 600 refugees arrived to the border near Sourou, Logone Oriental region, and were transferred to Diba refugee camp. This displacement seems to be caused by the presence and activities of the armed groups, the anti-Balaka and exSeleka which compete for control of border villages on the Central African side. In April of this year, 1,300 people arrived from CAR for the same reasons. The total number of refugees in the 8 refugee camps in the Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul and Moyen Chari regions is 69,827, plus 4,650 refugees who live outside the camps. Moreover, in these regions 68,638 Chadian returnees still live in returnee sites, and 33,356 returnees live in host villages. Due to the intense rains of the last few months, it has been reported that in the Djako returnee site out of the 425 tents built by IOM, 255 are destroyed and 170 are in a very critical state, accentuating the vulnerability of these populations.
In the East of the country, 319,512 Sudanese refugees are living in camps. Following the Tripartite Agreements for the Voluntary Repatriation of Sudanese refugees from Chad and that of Chadian refugees from the Sudan signed on 31 May, mechanisms are being put in place to ensure that returns occur in conditions of safety and dignity as well as ensuring that such returns are lasting.