Cameroon
We’re working in Cameroon, where thousands of families have fled conflict and are now living in Minawao Camp.
Chad
The Lake Chad Basin Crisis
A country in crisis
Chad is the most underserved country in the Lake Chad Basin when it comes to humanitarian assistance.
Having scored 118 out of 119 on the Global Hunger Index, the situation in Chad is classed as alarming. 87% of the rural population living below the poverty line.
Along with its neighbouring countries, Chad has been part of a Multinational Joint Task Force working against Boko Haram, an Islamic extremist group who reject all Western teaching.
But whilst Boko Haram attacks have been increasing in Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon, in 2017 the group’s presence decreased in Chad. This has encouraged the Chadian government to tighten its borders, limiting both refugee movement and humanitarian access.
As of February 2018, it is estimated that 500,000 people are in need of humanitarian assistance and 157,000 have been forced from their homes within Chad.
Where is Chad?
Chad is a landlocked country on the edge of some the world’s most violent conflicts.
It shares a border with Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Sudan and Libya.
In the north, you will find the Sahara Desert, an astonishing expanse of dust and flowing sand dunes.
The south is dominated by the Sudanian Savanna – a belt of tropical grassland that stretches from Nigeria to Ethiopia.
The crisis in Chad is complex. As well as the conflict with Boko Haram, Chad is also playing host to Central African and South Sudanese refugees from the east, and Chadian refugees who are returning from the Central African Republic.
How did ShelterBox help?
We worked with international aid agency, ICAHD (International Cooperation Action for Humanitarian Assistance and Development), to support families in Chad. Our work is now complete.
Our main four areas of focus were to:
- Give families protection from extreme weather and violence
- Increase safety and security
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Increase social cohesion between host communities and displaced families
What aid did families need?
A selection of the aid we supported families with
Thermal blankets
Our blankets provide comfort when families are recovering from traumatic experiences. These simple items help turn a shelter into a home.
Kitchen sets
These items bring normality back to lives turned upside down by violence. We’ve distributed aid like this to more than 3,400 families in Chad.
Mosquito nets
Malaria is the leading cause of death in Chad. We supported families with mosquito nets to help prevent this deadly disease from spreading and claiming more lives.
Photos from Chad
Finally a place to call home. A family in a ShelterBox tent in Chad
A woman prepares food in Chad.
A family receives aid in Chad
Distributing ShelterBox aid in Chad
Atta lives in a camp in Chad. She was forced to flee her home after her village was attacked by Boko Haram. She said the attackers came at night, slaughtering the men and raping the women. She fled with all her children.
Rosalie is a 42-year-old single mother of four. She lives in a camp for internally displaced people in Chad. She fled her home after Boko Haram attacked her village.
38-year-old Mirielle is a single mother of eight living in Daboua, an area in Chad which currently hosts more than 36,000 internally displaced people – many of which have escaped Boko Haram violence.
Harmata lives with her six children in a camp in the Lake Chad region. A violent attack forced Harmata to flee her village. ‘I escaped with my children instead of staying, Boko Haram is so unpredictable, if I had stayed I would be dead’.
More from the Lake Chad Basin
Niger
Niger is facing five major crises right now. Find out how we’re responding.
Nigeria
The conflict in Nigeria has been going on since 2009. Find out how we’re helping families to recover.