Alert

14/2008 - Cameroon

Chadian refugees flee to Cameroon

Geneva, February 8, 2008

On February 2, 2008, rebels entered Chad's capital city, N'Djamena, with the objective to topple the government. Fierce fighting erupted when government forces fought back. On February 5, the government claimed to have gained control of the situation, but the threat from the estimated 3,000 rebels who had launched the assault, is not believed over yet.

Due to the fighting, thousands of Chadians have fled N'Djamena. According to the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, about 30,000 people fled the conflict and found refuge in the Kousseri area in Cameroon across from the Chari River. Although home is just a short walk away across an iron bridge spanning the river to Chad, the refugees are not venturing home yet.

Churches, houses and hospitals in Kousseri are crammed beyond capacity. L'Eglise Fraternelle Lutherienne du Cameroun (EFLC), the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International member in Cameroon, reports that more than 6,000 persons are presently looking for shelter in the parishes of Kousseri, Maltam, Madagascar, Pont Ngeli, Kawadji (three parishes), Blangwa and Lakka. About 1,500 are in the parish of Kousseri, while a total of 5,000 are in need of shelter in the other parishes. The president of the church, Rev. Robert Goyek, says that the situation is desperate and that "people have been sleeping under trees the past days." He also reports that EFLC is responding to the situation with their limited resources, but urgently requires external support.

L'Eglise Fraternelle Lutherienne du Cameroun, with the support of the Lutheran World Federation/World Service program in Chad, are currently assessing the situation and preparing a request of support from the ACT International alliance. ACT member ICCO/Kerkinactie and the Danish Sudan Mission have pledged financial support. So far, the most urgent needs identified are: food, medicine, water and sanitation, and shelter (tents).

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).

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ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.