Flooding, continued violence jeopardize food security in eastern and southern Chad

Figure 1. Estimated current food security conditions, Quarter three (July to September) 2007 FULL-SIZE IMAGE Source : FEWS NET

Seasonal flooding and a recent upsurge in interethnic violence have increased the scope and severity of household food insecurity in eastern and southern Chad, necessitating greater reliance on humanitarian assistance for these populations until the next harvest begins in November 2007, and until the following harvest (in November 2008) for the worst affected.

Increased precipitation in portions of southern and eastern Chad over the past month has led to localized flooding (Figure 1), affecting a number of IDPs and refugees in Koukou zone, as well as populations in Mandoul, Mayo Kebbi and Moyen Chari. The floods have increased the level of short-term food insecurity by damaging or destroying crops, food stores and shelters, while damage to roads has limited humanitarian access. Populations in flooded areas are also at a higher risk of contracting waterborne diseases. Rains in non-flooded areas will, however, have a positive effect on grazing land and agricultural production for host communities, refugees from Sudan and the Central African Republic (CAR) and those internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were able to plant. Flooded areas may also experience increased opportunities for off-season recessional agriculture.

The Government of Chad (GoC) has made several efforts to quell the violence in southeastern Chad, including deployment of security forces to conflict areas, creation of a peace and reconciliation commission that includes traditional chiefs, government representatives and local administrative officials from the conflict zones, and continued negotiations between the GoC and various rebel groups. In addition, the President of Chad recently decided to move his offices from N?Djamena to eastern Chad in an effort to more closely follow Chadian military actions and encourage the rebels to move from violence and toward negotiations. Nevertheless, an upsurge in interethnic conflict in Dar Tama department, Guereda zone, has increased the number of IDPs in this area. This swell in IDP numbers is particularly concerning given that populations in this area are in the middle of the production season. Abandonment of fields at this point will likely further these populations? dependency on humanitarian food assistance until they are next able to harvest (November 2008). In order to stop these types of interethnic conflict, the GoC must increase its efforts to undertake a systematic disarmament of the zones and restore social justice in the zone, beginning with an equitable reconciliation between all parties in conflict.

Seasonal Calendar and Critical Events Timeline

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