UNICEF is requesting US$63.1 million to meet the humanitarian needs of children in Chad in 2015.
Chad is currently experiencing simultaneous acute emergencies that are stretching response capacities. Children in Chad face malnutrition, recurrent disease epidemics and outbreaks, cyclical floods, drought and displacement. The situation is exacerbated by political instability in neighboring countries, which has resulted in 460,000 refugees and 270,000 returnees in Chad, all of whom need access to protection, education, nutrition, health, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. As of December 2014, more than 150,000 people have fled the war in the Central African Republic (CAR) and entered Chad; among them, 20,000 refugees and 130,000 returnees have settled in the south of the country in temporary centres, camps and host communities. With little rain, the long dry season there has had a significant impact on agricultural production, particularly in the Sahel belt. Over 2 million people experience food insecurity, with over 274,500 suffering from extreme food insecurity. This situation may further compromise the nutritional status of vulnerable children. It is estimated that in 2015, 334,000 cases of acute malnutrition are expected in the Sahel belt, including 95,500 cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). Particularly in regions affected by food insecurity and displacement, women and children are more vulnerable to exploitation. They are often the victims of gender-based violence or at risk of being recruited by armed groups. As such, access to psychosocial support, protective services and quality education are imperative.
Humanitarian strategy
In 2015, UNICEF will continue to work with the Government of Chad to support preparedness and response efforts for the more than 5.5 million people affected by crises there, including 150,000 people affected by the CAR crisis who are in need of immediate assistance. Working with partners, UNICEF is supporting the scale-up of life-saving child survival, education, and social protection interventions. UNICEF works to decrease rates of top childhood illnesses including pneumonia, diarrhoeal-related diseases and malaria. More than 2 million children under age 5 will be vaccinated against measles, and 152,000 children with malnutrition will receive a lifesaving package of WASH and nutrition services. Up to 1,000,000 people will be reached with appropriate hygiene practices, and over 100,000 refugees, internally displaced persons and returnees will be provided with access to potable water and sanitation. In the south of Chad, UNICEF aims to provide access to education to 100,000 children living in transit/temporary centres and host communities. In regions affected by crises, UNICEF will foster a protective environment for girls and boys in accessing education, including early childhood development interventions, and will continue to support family reunification efforts. In the education sector, UNICEF will promote the child-friendly school approach as an entry point for peacebuilding programming and conflict and disaster risk reduction. To prevent the spread of water-borne diseases, such as cholera, UNICEF is building community partnerships to promote safe hygiene practices and other essential family practices. UNICEF will work with partners to assess child vulnerability and continue to strengthen government and community response capacity, to prevent and build resilience against cyclical and predictable shocks. UNICEF will enhance its readiness to provide adequate life-saving interventions by building strong partnerships and coordination mechanisms through cluster leadership roles for WASH, Nutrition, Education and Child Protection as well as a key partner role in the Health cluster.
