The security situation in Darfur and the border between Chad and Sudan remains volatile and unpredictable. Hostilities and tribal clashers are ongoing, which makes voluntary return prospects unlikely in the near future. Local integration is also unlikely as the host government is slow to grant naturalization and refugees have limited access to cultivable land.
As such, resettlement is the only durable solution at this time. Sudanese refugees located in 13 camps in the East are currently living in a protracted refugee situation in a harsh environment where competition for natural resources (water and wood) often results in discrimination. Women and girls who leave the camp in search of wood, water and engage in farming activities are also exposed to an increased risk of sexual gender based violence. Access to adequate medical facilities is also limited. Resettlement used as a protection tool can alleviate many of the protection risks faced by refugees in Eastern Chad.
Both at a local and country level, protection strategy requires reinforcement of partnerships for a concerted and targeted action with all stakeholders (government representations, economical actors, civil society, national and international NGOs, etc.) UNHCR’s protection strategy involves two approaches: the rights based approach and the community/ participatory approach. The aim of integrating these two approaches is to produce concrete and measurable results, identify the main constraints for refugee protection, and pinpoint concrete activities for durable solutions.
Our protection strategy encourages the establishment of cooperatives in areas such as:
- Shelter and infrastructure;
- Livestock;
- Attracting micro-finance institutions to the camps to give refugees access to financial services;
- Attracting development agencies in refugee camps to allowed them to benefit from development projects;
- Introduction of the Chadian school curricula in the camp;
- Encouraging and facilitating the settlement of refugees in local villages for those who are willing to integrate; -
- Strengthening community participation in the program planning process; -
- Exploring alternatives to firewood.