KOUKOU, Eastern Chad/GENEVA, 28 November 2007 (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for World Service (DWS) has scaled down to minimal levels its humanitarian operations in eastern Chad, because of insecurity following renewed fighting between the government forces and rebels.

The head of LWF/DWS Chad operations Mr Jaap Aantjes reported early this week that the local coordination meetings on security indicate "increased insecurity for humanitarian agencies in the area." He expressed concern that "the clashes between the army and rebels [are] causing general insecurity and could lead to civil war."

According to media reports, government and rebel forces claim scores of military personnel and rebel soldiers have been killed in the clashes, although no actual figures have been confirmed.

The fighting near the border with Sudan's western region of Darfur ends a month-long cease fire, and could also push back the deployment to the area of a European Union peacekeeping force, which was initially scheduled to start in November.

Since August 2007, LWF/DWS heads the operations in eastern Chad, set up after a joint Action by Churches Together (ACT) International assessment mission earlier in the year. The focus is mainly on internally displaced persons (IDPs), including people who fled cross-border violence spilling over from Darfur.

LWF/ACT continues to carry out some activities and "remains committed to responding to the humanitarian needs despite the security situation," Aantjes emphasized.

The LWF is a founding member of the Geneva-based ACT International.

Speaking to Lutheran World Information (LWI), DWS director Rev. Eberhard Hitzler underscored the LWF's hope for an end to the fighting that puts at further risk the lives of thousands of already vulnerable people. "Under the current circumstances it will be very difficult for us to care for thousands of refugees and IDPs, who urgently need assistance in order to get access to water, food, health care and shelter," he said.

He explained that recent attacks targeting humanitarian agencies and their staff and the increased fighting in the area "have now forced us to reduce our operations to a minimum."

The DWS director affirmed the deep commitment of the staff to help and take some risks while working in a highly insecure environment, but noted some limits have to be set. "We are responsible for our own staff and their security too. When humanitarian agencies are purposely attacked and their neutrality is disrespected, we have an obligation to seriously consider the staff's security situation," he said.

The LWF will monitor the developments in eastern Chad constantly in consultation with other agencies operating there, and would then decide the next steps, Hitzler added.

The LWF Department for World Service is the internationally recognized humanitarian and development agency of the LWF, with field programs in 36 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin and Central America and Europe.

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