Tchad Darfur refugees length: 9.30 ( recorded 16 april 2008 )

background:

The Darfur crises, which started in the spring 2003, just continues. So

far 200 000 have been killed and more than 2,5 million are displaced

inside Sudan. In February the Sudanese regime renewed real attacks

against villages in Western Darfur in co-operation with the feared

Janjaweed militia. Around 15 000 were forced to flee and a large part of

those crossed the border into Chad. This report follows some refugees from

a temporarily camp close to the border to the safety to a camp further

inside Chad.

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The road is bad, hardly more than faint tracks in the sand. The trucks travel

along the border to Sudan, a highly insecure area populated by roaming military groups.

After three hours we reach Birak in eastern Chad.

5000 refugees are living in a temporary camp. Darfur lies just a few

miles away and these people tell frightening stories of the

Sudanese regime's violence against them.

Osman Ibrahim Ali, arabic

-Government forces attacked us with vehicles and helicopters and Antonovs

and missiles. They killed many of us and many others fled and got lost.

Amina Haroun Yahya

-My husband was killed. Janjaweed killed him.

Two months ago, Sudanese government troops and Janjaweed militias redoubled attacks against villages in Western Darfur. Their homes burnt and what possessions remained stolen, they sought refuge either inside Darfur or here in eastern Chad.

Amina Haroun Yahya

-We did not have anything to eat. We did not bring anything with us. Just our children.

A few days ago more attacks were launched against villages in Darfur.

earlier this morning, we watched an aerial bombardment. The

refugees’ constant fear is that they may be attacked again.

Hassania Abbakkar

-There is no security here.

There is no sign of a let up in the violence, and more refugees are expected. To make

room for the newcomers here in Birak, the people have to move but many are

reluctant to leave the temporary security they have found here.

Mathilda Thibergan UNHCR Birak

-I think they have some family members here and they want to stay close to

their own towns in Darfur because they have got also some elderly that are

left in their homes so sometimes they cross the border to go and help

their vulnerable who stayed in Darfur.

Osman Ibrahim Ali, local Arabic

-So now we are going wherever the white man can take us. We took our

children far away to this place because we want to protect them from the

war.

But also ordinary Birak villagers suffer and malnutrition is common. In

the shade of a tree, mothers are waiting with their children. Today the

children's weight is checked and food supplements are doled out to the

needy. The thousands of refugees here put stress on the environment. They also bring the

threat of violence to the previously peaceful Birak.

Noura Shogaar malnourished children

-We are scared of the refugees because they bring security problems and food shortage.

After a brief registration process, the refugees start loading their

belongings and some limited food supplies onto the trucks.

The refugees try to insulate themselves against the jolting ride as much as possible. Several hours of travel in the dust and heat await them until they get further into Chad, and to safety.

The six trucks with about one hundred refugees reach Mile, one of twelve

refugee camps in chad run by the UN refugee organisation, UNHCR.

man with a megaphone

-Everyone come down from the trucks, wash your hands and then go

into the shade for vaccination.

The tired children look curiously at what well might be their home for

several years to come. Then they climb off the trucks. Last week more than

5000 refugees like these entered Chad. In this camp there are now 18 000 people. In total there are 230 000 Sudanese refugees in Chad. According to UN figures, a further 300 000 have been killed in the conflict.

The refugees receive water. Many of their babies are dehydrated after the

travel and start to cry. Then a short medical examination awaits and

vaccination, among others against measles.

Fatoumah

-We are happy.

Elisabeth Odinga, IMC Int Medical Corps

-Yes, they are happy for at least they are away from the border where they

had problems but now they are arriving in a safe place, I think most of

them must be happy. If you see their faces, most of them are happy.

Mile is a huge camp, erected four years ago in the middle of the desert

because there is ground water available here. Most refugees have lived

here since and everything have been built - sewage systems, schools,

storage houses. The refugees build theirhouses themselves.

Food rations are doled out every week. It is difficult to transport all the

goods needed for the refugees, especially when roads are bad. The rainy

season which starts in June make all roads unpassable and everything has

to be brougt here before then. Some transportation is done by the refugees

themselves.

But even here, there are rebel groups and criminals. The UNHCR has had several

employees killed and vehicles stolen. The worsening security affects the

camp: the refugees are stuck between escalating conflict in Darfur

and increasing tensions within Chad.

In the middle of March, the first EU troops started operating in the

area. But the force numbers just 3500 men and their mandate expires

in March next year.

Jorge Holly, UNHCR

-We truly believe that with the coming deployment of EUFOR troops in the

region there could be a stabilization in the security situation.

this will allow humanitarian staff to continue performing humanitarian

activities. So far it has been quite difficult and sometimes quite

dangerous for us to carry out normal operations in the camp.

A few Chadian government soldiers guard the camp. But they are ill

equipped - the camps are large and many different ethnic groups live

here which leads to significant social unrest. Conflicts break out frequently.

Criminals also attack the camps and it is women who find themselves the worst

affected.

At the hospital in the neighbouring town Guereda, we visit victim of the unrest within the camps.

Amina was at home alone, her husband had to go back to Darfur, when some

robbers knocked at her door in the middle of the night.

David Fayolu, med doctor, Guereda Hospital

-They shot her and the bullet get in through the arm, the left one, and

through the breast, the left breast and get in the chest and we have seen

a wound behind the left arm.

Amina's relatives wait anxiously. But she will be alright, the doctors

are confident.

Jorge Holly, UNHCR office Guereda

-Unfortunately we still face security problems in the camps and outside

the camps. A large percentage of incidents are related to

gender violence. There are also problems when refugees leave the camp –

they are attacked by locals who see them as a threat. There is also a very big

impact on the environment.

The many refugees need water, fire-wood and other things. Their needs

put them in conflict with the local population when resources in the

area are already limited. The local population see the refugees receive free food, education and health care, and are understandably angry.

The Abdallah family arrived with the truck today. Now they try to sort out

their belongings. Initially they will live in tents until they can build

their own house.

Abakr Abdallah

-Until we get a solution for us in maybe between 3 to ten years,

I don't know.

But at least their children will be educated here. If ever they return to Darfur their future

At least will be brighter.

Abakr Abdallah

- There are so many soldiers and trucks and airplanes, how can we hope for peace?

Jorge Holly, UNHCR office Guereda

-I don't believe this situation is sustainable, on the contrary, we

that the best solution for the refugees is to return, they should go back to Darfur

but first, the international community must continue to drive for a definite solution

in western Darfur.

Credits

photo, production: Lennart Berggren, Axiom Film