AFRICA/CHAD - Darfur: situation ever more critical for refugees in Chad. “two refugees killed in camp in Chad ” says UN High Commission for Refugees

Monday, 26 July 2004

Rome (Fides Service)- “The situation of Sudanese refugees in Farchana camp in east Chad is critical” United Nations High Commission for Refugees said in a statement dated 22 July. According to UNHCR two people were killed when Chad authorities intervened to settle disorder in the camp. UNHCR say eyewitnesses saw the bodies of a man and woman being taken away from Farchana camp after the intervention on the part of the Chad government to find those responsible for attacks on humanitarian workers operating in the camps.
“UNHCR is deeply saddened and concerned by the death of two refugees and calls on the Chad government to protect the life of the refugees. Recently in collaboration with the Chad government, UNHCR, tried to solve the problem peacefully also involving the local tribal leaders”.
UNHCR recalls that “there were no UNHCR officials or humanitarian workers present when the security operations were carried out. In fact afer the first acts of violence on 13 and 16 July the government of Chad ordered humanitarian workers to leave Farchana and Breidjing camps except for members of the Chad’s national Commission for Refugee Assistance ”.
The first incident on 13 July, was when a group of refugees protested against interventions to improve conditions in Farchana camps attacking throwing stones and other objects at, camp workers injuring two workers UNHCR and the other a member of a local NGO.
A similar incident happened three days later in Breidjing camp when two NGO workers were attacked by refugees armed with knives, and one of them was seriously injured. It was reported that refugees came from Farchana camp to start the rebellion. Following this second episode the Chad authorities made various efforts to visit the camps and UNHCR acted as mediator. A meeting on 18 July Farchana camp where there are 11,800 people produced no results mainly because the refugee spokesman refused to meet the joint group of UNHCR and government representatives. While the officials met a delegation of six refugees other members of the community of refugees stayed outside the meeting place shouting threatening message through megaphones. The mission had to return to Farchana, concerned that the situation might deteriorate rapidly. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 26/7/2004 righe 42 parole 494)


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