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2010 UNHCR country operations profile - Chad

Working environment

The context

Chad continues to host nearly 270,000 Sudanese refugees in the east and 57,000 refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) in the south. Chad has always maintained a constructive attitude towards asylum.

The humanitarian situation in Chad is expected to remain precarious in 2010. An increase in banditry targeting both the local population, refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and humanitarian workers, coupled with a resurgence of armed conflict and inter-ethnic strife, has led the UN to restrict staff movements to and from the refugee camps.

With the likelihood of continued conflict in Darfur, there are no prospects of voluntary repatriation from eastern Chad for the Sudanese refugees. The presence of a large refugee population is having a growing impact on the socio-economic situation and the depletion of natural resources. Likewise, lack of security in northern CAR makes the voluntary repatriation of refugees from the country now living in southern Chad unlikely. With regard to IDPs, the Office will continue to work under the inter-agency cluster approach and provide protection and assistance pending their return to the villages of origin.

The needs

The latest nutritional survey in all refugee camps in the east showed the average acute malnutrition rate to be around 12 per cent. This means that food security remains fragile and that the refugees require continued international support. In southern Chad, UNHCR is working to reduce the dependence of refugees on food aid by helping them to improve agricultural production.

Medical services and general health conditions in the camps are acceptable. The quality of primary health care provided to the Sudanese refugees has improved. Major health care priorities are the distribution of mosquito nets and the introduction of hygienic practices among the population. UNHCR will strengthen reproductive health programmes in all the camps in eastern Chad.

The supply of drinking water in the camps in the east is below international norms. Since water is a source of tension between the refugees and host communities, the infrastructure put in place for the refugees will also need to benefit the local population. Seven camps out of 12 lack enough latrines, creating protection risks for women and children. UNHCR will work with the refugees on the construction of additional latrines.

School enrolment rates in the eastern camps remain high, at almost 80 per cent. The school attendance rate for girls has increased significantly, to almost 50 per cent, even in the higher grades. UNHCR is committed to expanding access to secondary education so as to provide an alternative for those who would otherwise be at risk of recruitment as child soldiers.

Main objectives

Favourable protection environment

  • Ensure the protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs), while facilitating return to areas deemed safe.

  • Support the Government to play a greater role in the management of the refugee and IDP programmes.

Security from violence and exploitation

  • Promote security and strengthen the protection of Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad while increasing their self-reliance.

Community participation and self-management

  • Increase the self-sufficiency of the Central African refugees in the south.

Durable solutions

  • Enhance resettlement as a protection tool.

Key targets for 2010

  • The civilian and humanitarian character of refugee and IDPs camps is preserved.

  • All registered refugees receive identity documents.

  • Special measures are in place to protect and assist victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

  • The supply of non-food items is increased to address unmet needs in the camps.

  • Refugee and host communities play a greater role in programme implementation.

  • Up to 5,000 resettlement cases are processed.

2010-11 UNHCR planning figures for Chad
TYPE OF POPULATION ORIGIN JAN 2010 DEC 2010 - JAN 2011 DEC 2011
TOTAL IN COUNTRY OF WHOM ASSISTED
BY UNHCR
TOTAL IN COUNTRY OF WHOM ASSISTED
BY UNHCR
TOTAL IN COUNTRY OF WHOM ASSISTED
BY UNHCR
Total 560,460 541,080 587,570 572,000 601,840 589,220
Refugees Sudan 270,280 270,280 286,500 286,500 295,090 295,090
CAR 81,680 81,680 96,390 96,390 105,060 105,060
Various 350 350 340 340 300 300
People in refugee-like situations Sudan 11,340 - 9,070 - 7,280 -
Various 7,930 - 6,340 - 5,070 -
Asylum-seekers Various 110 - 160 - 270 -
Internally displaced 168,000 168,000 150,000 150,000 133,500 133,500
Returnees (IDPs) 20,770 20,770 38,770 38,770 55,270 55,270

Strategy and activities

Following five years of intermittent emergencies in eastern Chad, in 2010 UNHCR will aim to improve the sustainability of the camps and increase the self-reliance of refugees. UNHCR will establish partnerships with the Government and UN agencies to preserve the civilian and humanitarian character of the camps and prevent child recruitment. The Office will work with development actors in the areas of water, sanitation, health, forestry and the environment.

In southern Chad, UNHCR will support the self-sufficiency of the refugees as a means towards their socio-economic integration. It will also assist refugees and local communities in the management of services for both groups. In addition, UNHCR will strengthen its efforts to identify refugees in need of resettlement.

Using a comprehensive solutions approach, the Office will identify people with specific needs for resettlement among the urban refugee population in N'Djamena. At the same time, it will help individuals wishing to repatriate or integrate locally.

As regards the IDP population in eastern Chad, UNHCR will support voluntary return to places of origin and relocation to alternative sites. The Office will encourage the Government to assume greater responsibility in providing solutions for and support to its own people, especially in the areas of conflict resolution and inter-community dialogue. While significant return movements are expected in 2010, the majority of people are not expected to return until the situation improves.

Constraints

The situation in eastern Chad, and across the border in Darfur, is expected to remain unpredictable and potentially dangerous. This will continue to be a source of concern, both for the refugees and for humanitarian workers operating in the camps. It is hoped that the presence of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) will help stabilize the situation in and around the camps.

The stabilization and socio-economic integration of refugees in the camps will continue. Refugees will still require food aid to avoid malnutrition. A major challenge will be to maintain the civilian and humanitarian character of the camps and sites despite infiltration by armed groups, forced recruitment and the limited national capacity to uphold law and order.

Organization and implementation

Coordination

The Office participates in regular meetings at the country and regional levels with the local authorities, NGOs, MINURCAT, UN agencies and beneficiaries.

Financial information

The budget for the protection and assistance of refugees has remained stable since 2006, although the number of refugees has steadily increased. The budget for IDPs increased from 2006 to 2008, but decreased again in 2009 due to changes in the number of IDPs.

The 2010 budget for Chad increased to USD 161 million, a 56 per cent increase over the 2009 budget. The increase will help meet the assessed needs in health, water and sanitation, and expand self-reliance programmes. The larger budget will also raise the standards of international protection in Chad.

2010 UNHCR budget for Chad (USD)
RIGHTS GROUPS AND OBJECTIVES REFUGEE
PROG.
PILLAR 1
IDP
PROJECTS
PILLAR 4
TOTAL
Total 139,547,745 22,081,862 161,629,607
Favourable protection environment
International and regional instruments 307,768 0 307,768
National legal framework 202,717 0 202,717
National administrative framework 45,449 0 45,449
Prevention of statelessness 128,768 0 128,768
Cooperation with partners 208,768 0 208,768
National development policies 128,768 0 128,768
Public attitudes towards persons of concern 133,768 0 133,768
Access to territory 148,768 0 148,768
Subtotal 1,304,773 0 1,304,773
Fair protection processes and documentation
Reception conditions 3,302,613 0 3,302,613
Registration and profiling 2,342,562 1,342,193 3,684,755
Fair and efficient status determination 50,949 0 50,949
Family reunification 1,243,613 0 1,243,613
Individual documentation 1,427,254 632,193 2,059,447
Civil status documentation 1,105,613 0 1,105,613
Subtotal 9,472,603 1,974,387 11,446,989
Security from violence and exploitation
Impact on host communities 5,817,361 114,813 5,932,174
Effects of armed conflict 672,005 0 672,005
Law enforcement 562,763 264,813 827,576
Community security management system 1,557,361 0 1,557,361
Gender-based violence 2,237,263 1,720,813 3,958,076
Protection of children 1,525,361 864,813 2,390,174
Freedom of movement 113,356 0 113,356
Non-arbitrary detention 1,667,361 464,813 2,132,174
Access to legal remedies 874,361 314,813 1,189,174
Subtotal 15,027,192 3,744,878 18,772,071
Basic needs and essential services
Food security 1,747,494 0 1,747,494
Nutrition 2,499,055 0 2,499,055
Water 6,498,494 0 6,498,494
Shelter and other infrastructure 10,112,494 3,509,781 13,622,276
Basic domestic and hygiene items 4,272,494 1,109,781 5,382,276
Primary health care 10,458,055 0 10,458,055
HIV and AIDS 2,029,055 0 2,029,055
Education 8,887,055 0 8,887,055
Sanitation services 2,232,494 0 2,232,494
Services for groups with specific needs 2,285,395 0 2,285,395
Subtotal 51,022,088 4,619,563 55,641,651
Community participation and self-management
Participatory assessment and community mobilization 1,480,878 429,339 1,910,218
Community self-management and equal representation 2,023,429 429,339 2,452,769
Camp management and coordination 7,100,430 879,340 7,979,770
Self-reliance and livelihoods 6,802,378 0 6,802,378
Subtotal 17,407,116 1,738,019 19,145,134
Durable solutions
Durable solutions strategy 1,952,650 872,234 2,824,884
Voluntary return 21,974 0 21,974
Rehabilitation and reintegration support 0 1,047,234 1,047,234
Resettlement 3,431,650 0 3,431,650
Local integration support 532,882 0 532,882
Subtotal 5,939,156 1,919,469 7,858,624
External relations
Donor relations 822,992 200,517 1,023,509
Resource mobilization 832,992 188,517 1,021,509
Partnership 271,283 0 271,283
Public information 1,450,941 238,517 1,689,458
Subtotal 3,378,208 627,551 4,005,759
Logistics and operations support
Supply chain and logistics 20,172,637 3,935,066 24,107,703
Programme management, coordination and support 15,823,973 3,522,929 19,346,903
Subtotal 35,996,610 7,457,996 43,454,606

Source: UNHCR Global Appeal 2010-2011

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Statistical Snapshot*
* As at January 2009
  1. Country or territory of asylum or residence. In the absence of Government estimates, UNHCR has estimated the refugee population in most industrialized countries based on 10 years of asylum-seekers recognition.
  2. Persons recognized as refugees under the 1951 UN Convention/1967 Protocol, the 1969 OAU Convention, in accordance with the UNHCR Statute, persons granted a complementary form of protection and those granted temporary protection. It also includes persons in a refugee-like situation whose status has not yet been verified.
  3. Persons whose application for asylum or refugee status is pending at any stage in the procedure.
  4. Refugees who have returned to their place of origin during the calendar year. Source: Country of origin and asylum.
  5. Persons who are displaced within their country and to whom UNHCR extends protection and/or assistance. It also includes persons who are in an IDP-like situation.
  6. IDPs protected/assisted by UNHCR who have returned to their place of origin during the calendar year.
  7. Refers to persons who are not considered nationals by any country under the operation of its laws.
  8. Persons of concern to UNHCR not included in the previous columns but to whom UNHCR extends protection and/or assistance.
  9. The category of people in a refugee-like situation is descriptive in nature and includes groups of people who are outside their country of origin and who face protection risks similar to those of refugees, but for whom refugee status has, for practical or other reasons, not been ascertained.
The data are generally provided by Governments, based on their own definitions and methods of data collection.
A dash (-) indicates that the value is zero, not available or not applicable.

Source: UNHCR/Governments.
Compiled by: UNHCR, FICSS.
Residing in Chad [1]
Refugees [2] 330,510
Asylum Seekers [3] 54
Returned Refugees [4] 4,415
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) [5] 166,718
Returned IDPs [6] 37,615
Stateless Persons [7] 0
Various [8] 0
Total Population of Concern 539,312
Originating from Chad [1]
Refugees [2] 55,105
Asylum Seekers [3] 3,369
Returned Refugees [4] 4,415
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) [5] 166,718
Returned IDPs [6] 37,615
Various [8] 0
Total Population of Concern 267,222
2010-11 UNHCR partners in Chad
Implementing partners
Government agencies: Commission nationale pour l'accueil et la réinsertion des réfugies
NGOs: Africare; Agence d'aide à la coopération technique et au développement; Architectes d'Urgence; Association pour la Promotion des Libertés Fondamentales au Tchad; Association pour le développement d'Adré; Association pour le Développement Economique et Social du Département de Kobé; Association Tchadienne pour les Actions Humanitaires; Bureau Consult International; CARE; CHORA; Christian Children's Fund; Christian Outreach Relief Development; Concern Worldwide; Cooperazione Internationale; Croix Rouge Tchadienne; Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society; HELP; Institut national pour le développement économique et social; International Medical Corps; International Relief and Development; International Rescue Committee; Internews; INTERSOS; Lutheran World Federation; Mentor Initiative; OXFAM GB; OXFAM Intermon; Première Urgence; Secours Catholique pour le développement; SOS Kinderdorf
Operational partners
Government agencies: Ministries of the Interior and Public Security, Environment and Water, Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Justice; Coordination Nationale d'Appui à la Force Internationale
NGOs: Action Contre la Faim; Agence Française de Développement; Christian Children's Fund; Entente des églises et missions évangeliques du Tchad; Feed the Children; International Relief Development; Islamic Relief; Jesuit Relief Services; Médecins Sans Frontières (Holland, France, Spain, Switzerland, Luxembourg); Oxfam GB; Première Urgence; Refugee Education Trust; Save the Children UK; SOS Kinderdorf; World Concern
Others: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit; ICRC; IFRC; UN Country Team; World Bank

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