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Chad: Population Movement from the Central African Republic (CAR) - Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) DREF n°MDRTD017 / PTD027

Attachments

A. Situation analysis

Description of the disaster

Following clashes between armed groups in the North of Paoua in the Central African Republic (CAR) and a steady upsurge of violence in recent months, since 26 December 2017, an influx of CAR refugees entering the Eastern Logone region in the South of Chad has been observed since 26 December 2017. According to UNHCR Emergency Response Plan for Central African Refugees, released on 12 March 2018, about 19,910 Central African refugees have arrived in Chad since the beginning of 2018. The situation is constantly evolving and according to UNHCR-Chad weekly report of 2 March, during the last week of February approximately 2,500 new arrivals were recorded in the Moissala area. Pre-registrations are on-going as new arrivals continue to be identified.

This latest influx is the largest population movement ever observed since the beginning of the crisis in 2013: It exceeds the total number of arrivals to Chad for the whole year 2017, which amounts to 2,000 people. Given the volatile and unpredictable security situation in the North of CAR (Ouham Pende), the presence of refugees will most likely continue for a long time.

In the context of this crisis, the Government and UNHCR, after noting the limited effects of "camps" on the socioeconomic integration of refugees, now favours the settlement of refugees from the emergency phase, into host villages such as the Diba experience. Only a part of the new arrivals is being registered in camps, which often constitute "islets" that limit the integration of refugees. In recent weeks, authorities and humanitarian partners have been working on redefining the relocation and identification strategy of these refugee resettlement sites / villages.

Chad Red Cross (CRC), in close collaboration with the ICRC and the French RC, has from the onset of this refugee influx, activated its departmental committee and the local volunteer network to monitor the situation. It equally deployed a joint Red Cross Movement assessment mission in January 2018, to assess the needs of the affected populations.

The initial RCRC Movement joint needs assessment in January, as well as the UNHCR Emergency Response Plan, highlight that over 40 host villages are overwhelmed by a precarious food situation, with urgent needs for shelter, food, drinking water, health, education and care for children. There is also a need to strengthen basic services (water, sanitation and health) in these villages. It is for these reasons that Chad RC is requesting a total amount of CHF 271,180, to support in responding to the direst needs of these refugee and host households.

Bearing in mind that during the first weeks of this refugees’ influx, UNHCR was still working on finetuning its strategy, Chad Red Cross, for proper response and action, took the necessary time to observe the evolution of the situation on the ground while coordinating with all actors to plan accordingly for an adequate intervention to fill existing gaps.

As the situation does not seem to be improving, Chad Red Cross within the framework of this DREF, aims to target the priority gaps highlighted by the Government, as well as UNHCR's weekly report of March 2 and Emergency Response Plan for Central African Refugees, particularly about needs in the WASH sector. Indeed, it is essential to respond before the start of the rainy season, in May-June, to the urgent needs in water, hygiene and sanitation and prevent any epidemic outbreaks, while ensuring better access to basic services.