June 29, 2007

Following the recommendations of an assessment mission to eastern Chad in May and early June, members of the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International network are beginning an emergency relief operation in eastern Chad near Koukou, in the conflict-affected region bordering Darfur, Sudan.

The area is heavily impacted by large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have fled cross-border violence spilling over from Darfur. Many people are now facing a deplorable health and sanitation situation which is expected to worsen with the oncoming June-to-September rainy season. Aside from the chronic poverty and under-development that marks life for most Chadians, there are three groups of displaced persons currently in Chad.

The Darfuri refugees, the majority of whom fled Sudan in 2003-04, and who currently reside in refugee camps in eastern Chad, receive support through a fairly well-established assistance program. Central African Republic refugees - some 40,000 in southern Chad - are also considered by the United Nation as a population whose needs relate primarily to integration and long-term development. The third group consists of internally displaced Chadians affected by the conflict that is spilling over from Darfur. The ACT response, supported by Church World Service, will concentrate on this third group and will start by focusing on the sites of Habile and Aradib around Koukou in the Dar Sila district. These sites were identified by the ACT assessment team as those most acutely in need, and most severely suffering from current lack of attention from any organizations.

Sites around Koukou suffer from a complete absence of site management, planning and coordination, and of protection and community services. Sanitation is woefully inadequate, and water continues to be a problem.

RESPONSE: CWS partner Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is heading the CWS-supported response, and is sending an emergency coordinator to the region next week to establish the operation and to make preparations for additional staff to support the larger planned intervention. Partner Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) will also be sending a water engineer next week to begin work. The overall operations will gradually expand in a phased approach allowing for further discussions with all stakeholders and funding members as the program is established.

The planned programs in this appeal will also be extended to the surrounding villages to ensure that IDPs and local populations enjoy a similar standard of service provision in order to minimize any potential conflict between various populations. This initial appeal is for six months until the end of December 2007, with plans to continue as the program is further developed.

Some 25,000 displaced people live in Habile site and another 10,000 live in Aradib. ACT members will also work in surrounding villages to ensure that IDPs and the local population -- including marginal Arab communities -- enjoy a similar standard of living and have access to services provided. Failure to work in this way will provoke resentment among local residents and may lead to hostility towards the IDPs.

CWS is highlighting one aspect of the response: The ACT program seeks to contain the crisis in sanitation and hygiene, and to initiate meaningful community service activities and prepare the ground for more specific psycho-social care.

Community services activities include:

Assist IDPs in regaining normalcy in their social life with a special emphasis on child and youth activities.

Peace and reconciliation training and activities

Sports activities

Leadership training for IDP participation, including women and youth

HIV and AIDS awareness and control training

Training of water management committees.

July/September (Rainy Season): Develop the basics for staff accommodation and office in Koukou village. Start intervention in Habile site (25,000 people). Focus on site management, site re-organization, prevention of disease outbreak during rainy season and start up of community services and psycho-social activities.

October/December: Consolidate and improve ACT operational base, staff acccommodation, site offices and compounds. Continue site management, hygiene and sanitation in Habile and expand activities to include Aradib site (10,000 people). Provide emergency services to other accessible IDP groupings in the Koukou sous-Prefecture. Engage in community services/psycho-social activities and begin host community activities.

For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is responding please visit www.churchworldservice.org or call the CWS Hotline, (800) 297-1516.

Contributions to support this effort may be sent to your denomination or to: Church World Service, CHAD REFUGEES - Account #641-S, P.O. Box 968 Elkhart, IN 46515. Contributions may also be made by credit card online or by calling: (800) 297-1516, ext. 222.

Media Contacts: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin (24/7), 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net