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Eastern Chad: Concerns over vital humanitarian needs

(New York / Geneva / N'Djamena: 07 February 2008): Following fighting that affected the Chadian capital N'Djamena and other parts of the country last weekend, the situation in the country's east is currently calm. However, concerns are high over the fate of up to 500,000 vulnerable people - mainly refugees from the Sudan and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

'I am extremely concerned about the impact of the recent violence on our ability to deliver lifesaving assistance to almost a half million people, most of whom are heavily reliant on humanitarian aid for their survival', said John Holmes, Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) and United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.

The United Nations evacuated its non-essential staff from eastern Chad last week, and many staff from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have also left the area.

Very few refugees and IDPs in eastern Chad are self-sufficient. 'Stocks of food, medical supplies, water or fuel for water pumps, should last between two to four weeks at most locations. We must ensure that before that time, we are able to provide at least minimal assistance, which will enable people to survive', said Eliane Duthoit, Head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Chad.

'The situation in the east remains calm for now, and humanitarians have not been targeted in the recent fighting. In most areas, humanitarian access is good. We can be back to full business in no time when normality is restored and the overall situation is clearer', said Ms. Duthoit. 'As soon as this is the case, I encourage humanitarians to return and hope this will be within the coming two weeks, or the humanitarian situation will no longer be under control', she added.

Ms. Duthoit is part of a United Nations 'skeleton team' that has remained in the Chadian capital so that operations may get back to their normal level as soon as possible.

There are currently over 240,000 Sudanese refugees and over 180,000 IDPs in eastern Chad, and recent insecurity may have caused new displacements. Recent fighting has affected the region to a limited extent. However, the capital N'Djamena was far more affected, with reportedly over 100 fatalities and many more casualties, including civilians. This led at least 30,000 Chadians from the capital to flee to neighbouring Cameroon.

For further information, please contact:

Maurizio Giuliano, Public Information Officer, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),N'Djamena
Email: giuliano@un.org
Tel: +237-79650182 / +235-6053892

Katy Thiam, Associate Information Officer, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Abéché, Chad
Email: thiamk@un.org
Tel: +237-79691303 / +235-6201542

Stephanie Bunker, Spokesperson, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), New York
Email: bunker@un.org
Tel: +1-917-3675126

Elizabeth Byrs, Spokesperson, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Geneva
Email: byrs@un.org
Tel: +41-22-9172653

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