Highlights
Insecurity is still affecting the Lac region, with five attacks reported since the end of the year 2015. Some caused civilian casualties: on 21 December in Iga near Bol (two killed), and on 27 December in Kolom, 35 km from Baga-Sola (3 killed).
A joint mission (OCHA, UNICEF, HCR, IOM, UNDSS, Chadian Red Cross, Help Tchad) took place on 21 December in a spontaneous site located on the Melia-Bol road, hosting some 3,000 displaced people in need of assistance.
Due to the security situation, numerous humanitarian activities planned for the end of the year had to be suspended.
The humanitarian response should soon intensify with the allocation, on 29 December 2015, of USD$ 7 million by the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to assist affected populations in the Lac region.
Background
Insecurity in the Lac region prevails, with several suicide-attacks reported at the end of the year 2015 while the state of emergency is still in place. The most recent attack took place on the lake (between the islands of Kainga Ngouboua and Kangaria) on 1 st January 2016, targeting the Chadian army. On 31 December 2015, three armed men attacked the island of Moussorom (40 km south of Bol) before being caught. On 27 December, another attack took place in the village of Kolom (35 km south-west of Baga-Sola), killing three. On 22 December 2015, a group of three women kamikazes blew themselves up in Koudouboul (6 km south-west of Bol). Among them, two were killed and the third one was injured. Another incident had taken place on 21 December, when armed men had attacked the village of Iga (8 km west of Bol), killing two and a 12-year old girl was wounded by gunshot.
Despite this difficult context, the humanitarian community continues its response activities, and attempts to extend its operations to areas that have not yet received humanitarian assistance. A joint evaluation mission (OCHA, UNICEF, HCR, IOM, UNDSS, CRT, Help Tchad) was organized on 21 December in a new spontaneous site called “Dar-es-Salam IDP” located on the Melia-Bol road (around 2 km from Mar village). According to the findings of the mission, some 3,000 displaced people living there need assistance. Among them, 85% fled insecurity in the islands (Dalerom, Yirbou, Kaya, Lamindon, Koudo, Guilasa, Kaiga, Kourbiya), while 35% are vulnerable people from neighbouring villages, who came because in the hope of receiving humanitarian assistance. These people live in precarious conditions, in some 100 huts built with local material. Their most urgent needs are water, food, non-food items, and health care.
IDP profiling is ongoing in areas that are accessible in security terms. It is estimated that 33% of 53,000 estimated IDPs still need to be registered. In addition, there are some 16,000 estimated IDPs in Tchoukoutalia that were initially estimated at 20,000 people (See Sitrep n˚ 9). These people were displaced following recent military operations in the area. As of 30 December, some 36,157 people had been profiled by IOM (in the areas of Baga-Sola, Bol, Daboua, Kangalom, and Liwa), as well as 15,000 returnees and 771 third-country nationals. Out of 182 planned profiling locations, IOM could only cover 85 locations, due to the security context.
Humanitarian access to host communities is still limited by security constraints, which in turn has an impact on the delivery of humanitarian assistance. For instance, general food distributions planned in December for IDP sites could not be fully implemented. Only 34,048 out of 72,444 beneficiaries initially targeted have been reached (47%). The joint evaluation mission of 21 December mentioned above was not able to go to Koulkime for security reasons. The United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) recommended a suspension of humanitarian activities on the BolMelia axis, fearing infiltration by armed men among displaced people. Military escorts are currently recommended on all roads, except Baga-Sola – Bol, however this may change in the event of a further deterioration of the security situation.
The humanitarian response should soon intensify in accessible areas, due to the USD$ 7 million allocation by the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) on 29 December, for the humanitarian response in the Lac region. This assistance should benefit IDPs, refugees, and the host population affected by the consequences of the prevailing violence in the region. The nine projects approved include assistance in food security, nutrition, emergency protection, access to health (including reproductive health and psychological support), and education. These projects will be implemented by the United Agencies (FAO, IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA, WFP, WHO) and their partners.