Silver Spring, Maryland—The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is responding to the humanitarian needs of thousands of Chadians who have fled to Kousseri, Cameroon, after rebels laid siege to the Chadian capital N'Djamena earlier this month.

At the request of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), ADRA is providing 100 pit latrines, 25 showers, and four waste disposal pits to serve as many as 8,000 refugees who may move into the newly established Maltam 1 Refugee Camp, 22 miles from the border town of Kousseri. UN news agency IRIN reports that an estimated 2,400 individuals have already been registered there. ADRA is also providing psychosocial counseling for refugees and camp staff, the only provider of such services in Maltam 1.

Tens of thousands of civilians fled N'Djamena into neighboring countries after rebel forces entered the capital at the beginning of February. Although refugees are still being registered, initial UNHCR reports stated that at least 37,000 refugees arrived in Kousseri after the attempted coup began and were sheltered in three camps. While some refugees have returned home, IRIN states that 4,500 have expressed a willingness to move to Maltam 1. An estimated 20,000 are expected to remain in the Kousseri area.

"As the refugees in Maltam 1 begin to settle down and start to think of the homes, relatives, and properties they have lost, the need for counseling and psychosocial support will increase," says Pierre Celestin Mutarambirwa, country director for ADRA Cameroon, who himself was forced to flee the fighting in Chad along with local ADRA staff while conducting an assessment. "To address the psychological needs of the refugees, the UNHCR is providing a tent next to Maltam 1 camp for ADRA to use for counseling purposes."

An estimated 75 percent of those receiving counseling are women and children, many of whom fled their homes with little or no supplies, and are now completely dependent on the refugee camp for their most basic needs.

"As those who are able continue to return home, the numbers of refugees in Cameroon are expected to decrease," adds Mutarambirwa. "ADRA's sanitation and counseling responses will benefit those with the greatest needs remaining in the camp."

ADRA Cameroon's initial response, funded by ADRA International, is expected to continue for one month. In addition to the 1,600 households (approximately 8,000 individuals) that could benefit from the sanitation facilities, a minimum of 6,000 refugees and staff are also expected to receive counseling by project's end.

Updates will be released as ADRA's response efforts expand.

To donate to ADRA's emergency response effort to aid violence-displaced Chadian refugees in Cameroon and other emergencies, please contact ADRA at 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or donate online to ADRA's Refugee and Displaced Persons fund at www.adra.org.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

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Author: Nadia McGill

Media Contact: Kara Watkins ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.6357 Mobile: 301.526.2625 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org