Sudanese children at a refugee camp in eastern Chad say that Janjaweed rebels in Darfur have made them orphaned in recent months. Reporter Henry Wilkins speaks to children who are left behind in a foreign country with little help as media and rights organisations continue to report on atrocities.
An influx of refugees from the neighboring Sudan has overwhelmed the abilities of aide groups, prompting Doctors Without Borders to appeal to the international community to prevent a “catastrophic” humanitarian disaster in Chad.
Over 1 million people have fled the conflict in Sudan between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, according to the UN.The global body added, some of the neighboring nations, like South Sudan and Chad, are welcoming refugees, while others, like Egypt, have restrictions.
The International Criminal Court said in July it would investigate allegations of extrajudicial killings, the burning of homes and markets, and looting in Sudan’s Darfur region.
Chad consistently ranks among the lowest five countries in the U.N.’s Human Development Index due to its poor state of education, living standards, and life expectancy. In this report from N’Djamena, Henry Wilkins speaks to residents who find it difficult to imagine a decent future for their families and to experts about what can be done to kick-start development.
According to the UN, conflict and unrest in Sudan’s western Darfur region have sparked sexual abuse against women. Many people who fled the area to the neighboring country of Chad say that law and order have completely broken down, allowing for an increase in attacks on women.
According to Moody’s and the International Monetary Fund, if the conflict in Sudan continues, it will harm the economies of its neighbors. Trading and customers in N’djamena, the capital of Chad, have already felt a pinch of high inflation as the war’s economic effects put their love of hot, sweet tea in jeopardy.
Tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees are being moved by the UNHCR to new camps away from the border with Sudan. According to the visiting UNHCR deputy,concerns regarding security and access to aid are increasing along with the number of refugees.
Sudanese Security officers tell VOA that they left their country and are now at Chad’s border because they lack supplies and ammunition to combat their opponent, paramilitary Rapid Support personnel. Analysts and relief organisations say that the risk of the conflict spreading to neighbouring countries is high as the rule of law deteriorates in Sudan’s Darfur region.
Rainfall levels around Lake Chad in Cameroon have decreased, causing streams to dry up and escalating the conflict between farmers and herders over vital resources