Chad: ACT Alliance Alert/Update: Chad: Resilience and Livelihoods Support for Sudanese, CAR refugees, and host communities in Chad
Geneva, 17 March, 2016
1. Brief description of the emergency and impact
Chad ranks 185 out of 188 on the Human Development Index and takes the 6 th position on the Fragile State Index. In this precarious context, Chad hosts millions of vulnerable people, displaced by violence and conflict in neighbouring countries. Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria, Northern Cameroon and within Chad now exacerbate the challenges of humanitarian response.
In addition to floods, droughts and pests, negatively influence agricultural activities, displacement has caused food insecurity and threatened the livelihoods of over 3.4 million people – refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Chadian host communities living nearby the refugee camps. OCHA's Humanitarian Response Plan for 2016 indicates that 3.9 million people in Chad are directly affected by the four major crises in Chad and the surrounding countries. Chad currently hosts more than 505,370 refugees (377,480 Sudanese, 100,000 CAR and 27,890 from other countries).
2. Why is an ACT response needed?
Chad is a forgotten crisis that holds potential risks for further deterioration and spill-over from its surrounding countries. The dire situation of refugees and host communities is intensified by limited international attention and support. The ACT Alliance wishes to sustain its commitment to refugees and host communities in the East and South of Chad as they remain in need of humanitarian and long-term support.
The ACT Alliance members in Chad sees the urgency to provide immediate life-saving assistance, but it also aims to continue building resilient communities that are more self-reliant to meet their livelihoods as well as psychosocial needs. A precondition for sustainable solutions to long-term displacement in Chad is to support peaceful coexistence between long-term displaced populations and their host communities and sustainable use of natural resources (livelihood development). This will reduce tensions and provide mutual benefit for national development, peace and stability in the region.
The ACT Alliance does not expect a large return of refugees from Chad to Sudan or CAR. Darfur, Sudan remains a complex crisis and CAR continues to experience insecurity and violence following elections in 2015. Sustainable solutions to long-term displacement in these protracted crises are needed.
3. National and international response
The humanitarian response in Chad is carried out by 54 organizations, including 9 UN agencies, 40 International Non-Governmental Organizations and 14 National Non-Governmental Organizations within 7 clusters.
Several organizations (including ACT Alliance member, LWF) were involved in developing the Humanitarian Response Plans4 under OCHA coordination. A partnership agreement was signed in January 2016 between UNHCR and LWF/ACT for the implementation of two projects in five sectors livelihood, environment/energy, shelter/infrastructure, food distribution and vocational training.
4. ACT Alliance response
Since 2007, ACT has continued to respond to the humanitarian needs in Chad through annual appeals.
The implementation The LWF/ACT intervention in 2016 will continue to provide support in the same areas as under appeals TCD141 and TCD 151 however, the upcoming appeal will focus on the new strategy of strengthening livelihood opportunities for long-term displaced populations and replicating this model in host villages.
5. Planned activities
The ACT appeal will focus on increased resilience, self-reliance and food security through restoration of livelihoods; increased peaceful coexistence between host communities and refugees; and providing psychological first-aid as well as ensuring host community's preparedness in conflict transformation in an insecure regional and national context. It will focus on supporting Sudanese refugees in Eastern Chad, CAR refugees in Southern Chad, and the surrounding host communities.
The ACT Alliance members in Chad( LWF and DKH) require a total of US$ 500,000.00 to meet the needs of 6,631 Sudanese refugees and 8,457 host communities, Eastern Chad and additional 4,202 CAR refugees and 6,178 host communities in Southern Chad.
6. Constraints
Regional and political insecurity risks of unrest and violence in Nigeria, CAR and Sudan resulting in influx of new refugees to Chad. Low return of refugees in Chad to neighbouring countries increases pressure on use of host communities' natural resources. Insecurity in Chad, terrorist attacks and increased security threats, specifically in Ndjamena and West Chad, and planned Presidential elections in April 2016 (risk of political unrest). CAR and Nigeria borders with Chad are still closed and limits access to services for the affected population.
Forum/Member Contact information: Lutheran World Federation and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe LWF Representative – Mr. Adamou Koumanda, rep.tcd@lwfdws.org Tel +235 66 90 00 95
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to the Head of Finance and Administration,
Line Hempel (Line.Hempel@actalliance.org)
For further information please contact: ACT Regional Programme Officer, Arnold Ambundo (Arnold.Ambundo@actalliance.org)
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