Chad: Fleeing war and terror

Donate to people in Chad

Providing clean water and building a future: we currently support 190,000 people in Chad. We are active in the areas of water, livelihood security and refugee aid. With your help we can support refugees and the local population – donate now!

Table of contents

Ahmat Moussa fled with his family to Chad. "Three months ago we saw that the neighbouring island was on fire. At first we thought that it was a normal bush fire, but when lots of boats left the island, we realised that it had to be Boko Haram. I tried to reach my nephew, who lived on the neighbouring island, but the phone was not answered. I later found out that he had been murdered. We then also packed everything up and fled on boats towards the mainland. Apart from Help, so far no one has provided any assistance. So far only Help has given us food, sleeping mats, blankets and clean water by building a well. We are eternally grateful for that."
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What is the situation like in Chad?

refugee camp in Chad — Fleeing war and Terror people find refuge in camps.

Fleeing war and terror

Since 2014 more than 2.4 million people have fled the violence of the terrorist group Boko Haram and sought refuge in the Sahel. Over 250.000 people have fled to the west of the country alone, to the region around Lake Chad. Many Chadians have also been forced to leave their home villages because of security measures and fear of attacks. In addition, Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad have been dependent on assistance from aid organisations like Help since 2003. They have fled the conflict in Darfur and are still unable to return to their home regions. The large numbers of people are creating new conflicts in the resource-deprived country: in addition to immense poverty, high unemployment and few opportunities to build a better life, shortages of resources such as clean water, firewood, arable land and food are becoming more and more severe.

How is Help providing support in Chad?

River weirs installed by Help — River weirs fertilize the dry ground.

Donors and partners: AA (Department for Foreign Affairs), ADH (Aktion Deutschland Hilft), BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development)

Water, food and incomes for refugees and the local population

Help supports refugees and the local population in the west and east of Chad. Help ensures supplies of water by building wells with solar pumps (climate protection) and provides hospitals and health centres with equipment. By building dams across rivers, we create new agricultural land and provide sustainable supplies of food and opportunities to earn an income. We also support fishing, cattle breeding and vocational training for young people. For the local population and refugees, these are further opportunities to earn a livelihood. We involve the local population in our activities to avoid new conflicts with refugees.

Our direct aid in the Lake Chad project region includes:

Food
Clothing
Sleeping mats
Toiletries and cooking utensils

In this region, Help is one of the few humanitarian organisations supporting those in need outside the refugee camps.

Pictures and videos

Help builds wells to relieve the tense water situation in the municipalities.

The adequate supply of people in Chad with water is a major problem.

We support both refugees and the local population with food, drinking water and clothing.

We also ensure long-term food supplies in Chad through agricultural aid.

A Help employee registeres a refugee woman and her child for the distribution of emergency assistance.

In the refugee camp Am Nabak Help built the largest solar-powered water system of Chad.

The refugees receive also daily goods like hygiene kits and cooking supplies.

The construction of river weirs supports the fertilisation of the dry ground.

Help supports residents and refugees in Am Nabak with water and medical assistance.

Help also improves the equipment of the hospitals with medical equipment and solar power.

In 2013, we received the German Solar Prize for the safe and environmentally friendly water supply of the people through solar fountains.

Help supports Nigerian refugees, internally displaced persons and Chadian refugees on the banks of Lake Chad.

Livelihood security in Chad through agriculture.

Facts and Figures

Figures about Chad

Over 4.4 million people in Chad depend on humanitarian aid
4 million people do not have a secure food supply
1.7 million people are suffering from malnutrition
Over 612.000 children’s lives are at risk due to malnutrition
Over 400.000 refugees from other countries live in Chad

Source: UNOCHA / Correct as of: 12/2017

Facts about our work

Eastern Chad:

Provided supplies to around 100,000 refugees
Built 30 wells with solar pumps
Constructed 24 river dams to irrigate agricultural land

Western Chad:

Provided 90,000 people with food, solar-powered wells and agricultural relief supplies
Provided vocational training to 40 young people
Distributed livestock to 250 households
Supported cooperatives of fishermen and small crop growers