This SitRep was produced by OCHA in association with humanitarian partners and is focused on the recent internal displacements since 21 July 2015. It was published by OCHA Chad and covers the period from 15 July to 23 August 2016. The next publication will be around 15 September 2016.
Highlights
Several recent security incidents have affected humanitarian access in border areas, where military operations continue.
The recurrence of false alarms to attract humanitarian assistance underlines the need to increase awareness of humanitarian principles.
A malnutrition screening among more than 800 children by the NGO IRC highlights 16.3% of severe acute malnutrition and 17.6% of moderate acute malnutrition.
The protection monitoring conducted early August in 14 sites between Liwa and Daboua has identified 61 protection incidents.
80,616 Displaced people registered since May 2015.
Including:
69,057 internally displaced people
11,239 Chadian returnees
320 third-country nationals
Source: Shelter /NFI/ CCCM cluster - IOM (Displacement Tracking Matrix 25/08/2016).
37,876 Estimated displaced people*, not yet registered.
Source: Shelter /NFI/ CCCM cluster - IOM (25/08/2016.).
7,004 Refugees, including 5,432 residing in Dar-es-Salam camp arrived since January 2015.
Source: HCR/CNARR (31/07/2016)
Background
The security situation remains fragile in the Lac region, with several security incidents in border areas, where military operations are still ongoing. According to authorities in Kaiga, near the border with Niger, on 30 July, a public transport vehicle has reportedly exploded on a mine between Kaiga and Boma, causing three casualties. This is the third mine-related incident in 2016, after Kaiga-Ngouboua on 12 May and on 1 June between Kaiga-Ngouboua and Kaiga-Litri. Moreover, between 26 and 30 July, seven civilians were allegedly killed and eight women abducted in Kaiga sub- prefecture. Since mid-August, security sources have reported several incidents in Kaiga Kinjiria area. On 14 August, an attack in Fotio village beside Kaiga Kinjiria has reportedly caused one death. Between 16 and 17 August, an attack allegedly took place in Boultoua, 3km from Tchoukoutalia, causing one death and injuring two people. The following night, attacks simultaneously affected Djillom, Moundi and Ndjalia villages, around Daboua, during which two people died and more than 1,000 cattle heads were robbed. These incidents have affected humanitarian access with consequences on vulnerable people in the border area with Niger and Nigeria. Several partners have already suspended operations in the area because of security incidents. In Kaiga Kinjiria area, nearly 8,000 displaced people and 800 refugees could be left without assistance. In addition, two food lootings by the population were reported during distributions, emphasizing the importance of awareness-raising before, during and after the distributions.
False alarms are multiplying in the Lac region to attract humanitarian assistance. An alert was launched on 2 August regarding alleged floods in 24 villages west of Baga-Sola, which had reportedly led to the displacement of about 1,000 people. However, an inter-agency mission composed of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and OCHA, which assessed the situation in Tchoukoudoum on 4 August, found no flooding or urgent humanitarian needs, thus highlighting a false alarm raised by the population and passed on by local authorities in hopes of benefitting from humanitarian assistance. The recurrence of following false alarms in Kaiga Kinjiria in June highlights the need to improve the authorities’ knowledge of humanitarian principles, particularly the principle of impartiality according to which humanitarian action is based on an analysis of the most urgent needs according to vulnerability criteria.
The situation has not improved in the Lac region since January 2016, according to REACH’s second multisectoral assessment (June 2016). The survey was conducted between April and June 2016 in 267 villages and 84 displacement sites throughout the region. The main results indicate that population movements are dynamic: the majority of the villages surveyed had both departures and arrivals of displaced people, primarily because of the security situation and food insecurity. The results also point out that these movements cause pressure on basic services, and indicate that access to health services deteriorated. In this context, the risk of degradation of social cohesion and tensions between the displaced and host communities could increase: in a quarter of the villages surveyed, tensions are observed, and 28% of respondents believe that tensions "could emerge in the future ".