New attacks in Chad, NGOs again suspend aid
(B2) Attacks by armed bandits have forced humanitarian aid NGOs to suspend humanitarian aid to displaced people in eastern Chad, says the information service of the UN Humanitarian Office . NGOs such as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Action Against Hunger have suspended most of its activities in the regions of Dogdoré and Ade near the Sudanese border.
Some 28.000 displaced people live in Dogdoré, 8500 in Ade. MSF - which is the only organization providing medical care in Dogdoré - was forced to withdraw expatriate staff. The Chadian government is implicated. It is he who "has the primary responsibility for the safety of humanitarian workers," says the head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Chad, Eliane Duthoit. "I think they could do more."
On the safety side, it is estimated that the gleaming 4x4s of the NGOs are all the more eye-catching as, in general, there is a "no arms" logo prominently displayed inside. A "real" offer to attack, explained to me a soldier, "To show that one is not armed in this country is a sign of weakness, and therefore easy prey for bandits of all kinds".
In 2008, there were 124 attacks on humanitarian personnel and on displaced people and refugees, including carjackings and armed robberies, according to the UN. The bandits steal money, cars and equipment. Four aid workers were killed in these attacks, including the country director of Save the Children-UK.
