Foreign News

UN agency in Chad expects 100,000 refugees from Sudan

Kenya / Refugees look at traditional dance during Luol Deng visit at Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. / UNHCR / R. Gangale / July 2010

The Head of the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) in Chad says it expects more refugees to flee across the border from Sudan.

About 10,000 to 20,000 Sudanese have already crossed the border into Chad a week after the fighting began in Khartoum and other areas of the country.

“We are expecting more waves, that is certain.

“Immediately, when there will be a security window for them to come.

“There are major towns near the border and those there have not been able to move,” Pierre Honnorat, Director of the WFP in Chad, said.

“The World Food Programme is going to prepare to welcome at least 100,000.

“It is probable that there could be more, so we have to be ready,” Honnorat said.

He added that most of those who arrived in recent days from villages along the border were women and children. (Al-Jazeera)

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Meanwhile, Honnorat said that Chad needed support for the influx of refugees crossing from Sudan.

“It’s going to be extremely difficult if we don’t get support.

“We already have 400,000 Sudanese refugees in 14 camps alongside that border,” he said.

He added that there is now a new influx of refugees, but “absolutely no funding for the 400,000”.

“We’ve just managed some shipments for food aid …

“Some trucks already departed yesterday, more will come tomorrow to the border for the first distribution because those people are really in need. We need support.

“Definitely, with this big caseload, the government of Chad needs support to host all those people.”

 

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