Entire humanitarian operation across Chad at risk

4 February 2008

A US$300 million global aid operation supporting millions of people in Chad is now under threat as violence in the capital disrupts the aid supply chain.

Gareth Owen, Director of Emergencies for Save the Children and currently in Chad, has said:

"The whole humanitarian network in Chad is dependent on planes flying in and out of the capital. As the violence disrupts Ndjamena, children and families across the whole country will suffer.

Aid organisations such as Save the Children are working in the east of Chad with children already struggling to survive, both refugees from Darfur and Chadians who have been forced to flee their homes. They are vulnerable to abuse and separation from their families, have little means of getting food, clean water or healthcare, and many are missing out on school. We are currently providing support to the communities, but if aid supplies are interrupted, millions more lives will be at risk."

Owen continued:

"Chad is an extremely dangerous place to work. It is a large country and aid agencies can only move around by air because the roads are very unsafe.

Some airlines have stopped flights and the UN is evacuating staff. Save the Children has no means of moving aid and staff, and if the violence continues, our humanitarian operations will be severely hampered. This new fighting in the capital is directly increasing the suffering of vulnerable children across the country."

What we're doing:
Save the Children is continuing to support around 25,000 children in Chad, with staff in Koukou, Dogdore, Abeche and Hadjer Hadid. The work includes education projects, distributing emergency supplies such as blankets and plastic sheeting, setting up safe places for children to play and shelter, and running nutrition programmes to reach malnourished children.

How you can help:

Credit card donations – phone 0800 167 168
Donate online