A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
Fighting between the Nigerian Armed Forces and Boko Haram militia group in northern Nigeria has continued to result in the displacement of thousands of people across the border into neighbouring Chad. From 1 January 2015, intense fighting in the town of Baga prompted an estimated 7,300 people in the surrounding areas to relocate to the Lake Chad region. The Nigerian refugees have been accommodated in camps in Baga Sola and N’gouboua, which have been provided by the local authorities, or in host communities. Host communities have also been highly affected by this influx, because they have to share their scarce resources and limited infrastructure with refugees. The Chadian government has decided to intervene and support Cameroonian and Nigerian Armed Forces in their fight against Boko Haram, which was expected, would lead to more refugees and Chadian nationals crossing the border into Chad and neighbouring countries.
On 23 January 2015, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) allocated 140,868 CHF from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Red Cross of Chad (RCC) meet the immediate needs of 2,500 people (500 households) in N’gouboua, in the areas of emergency shelter and non-food items (NFIs), health, water, sanitation and hygiene, for a period of two months. As of 22 March 2015, it is estimated that 40 per cent of the activities have been completed.
On 13 February 2015, an incursion by suspected Boko Haram militants into N’gouboua resulted in the death civilians (seven), burning of homes and belongings, as well as population movement in the area. According to local authorities, the populations of the N’gouboua camp, and surrounding villages (Kaiga, Koulfoua and Tetewa) fled to Baga Sola to seek security. An office has been set up in the town hall In Baga Sola to identify and register returnees and internally displaced populations. As of 28 February 2015, 154 Chadian returnees from Nigeria (34 households), and 2,708 Chadians (819 households) that have come temporarily from N’gouboua and other surrounding villages have been registered, of which most are living in with host families. Other movements have been noticed, mainly from in N’gouboua to Forkolom, while children and teenagers are coming from N’gouboua and Tchoukoutalia to join their families. According to the sub-prefects in the Lac region, it is estimated that there are 8,500 refugees, as well as 14,500 internally displaced people (IDPs) in the sub prefectures of Baga Sola, Bol and Liwa, and 200 citizens from other countries, specifically, Cameroon and Niger. Moreover, in Mayo Kebbi Est in the southern part of the country, a joint mission carried out by Comité national d’accueil des réfugiés et des rapatriés (CNARR), RCC, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) and local authorities confirmed the arrival of 1,080 people composed of 527 Nigerians, and 553 Cameroonians coming from Nigeria, and 232 returnees coming back from Nigeria. It was also reported that 509 returnees from the Central African Republic (CAR), which were settled in host families, and mainly located in the in Naguigoto area.
As a result of the evolving security situation combined with the non-availability of staff to be deployed to support the DREF operation, logistical constraints, and issues surrounding the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has caused the implementation of planned activities to be delayed. This Operations Update is therefore requesting a timeframe extension of 2 months, to enable the activities planned to be completed. The DREF operation will end on 23 May 2015, and a final report will be made available on 23 August 2015 (3 months after the end of the operation).
This DREF has been partially replenished by the Netherlands Red Cross / Silent Emergencies Fund. The major donors and partners of the DREF include the Red Cross Societies and governments of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the USA, as well as DG ECHO, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) the Medtronic, Zurich and Coca Cola Foundations and other corporate and private donors. The IFRC, on behalf of the Red Cross of Chad would like to extend many thanks to all partners for their generous contributions.
