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STORY: CHAD / C.A.R. REFUGEES
TRT: 4.16
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / FRENCH / NATS
DATELINE: 27-31 APRIL 2009, AMBOKO REFUGEE CAMP, SOUTHERN CHAD
28 APRIL 2009, AMBOKO REFUGEE CAMP, SOUTHERN CHAD
1. Various shots, Mariam Kondjom preparing beignets (fried bread) in front of her hut
29 APRIL 2009, AMBOKO REFUGEE CAMP, SOUTHERN CHAD
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mariam Kondjom, Refugee from Central African Republic:
“There was shooting, and when this got worse, we didn’t want to wait for the war to arrive. And because there was a lot of shooting we were obliged to run into the bush and hide there. We stayed there for three days before we went back. In the chaos I lost one of my children.”
3. Various shots, Mariam Kondjom collecting water from a stream and watering vegetable patch
30 APRIL 2009, AMBOKO REFUGEE CAMP, SOUTHERN CHAD
4. Various shots, vocational training centre for refugees and local residents.
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Clément Nangdoh Local Chief:
“The big advantage brought by the refugees, is the establishment of a health clinic and also the training centre. And also for the treatment, young people can be treated here now."
6. Various shots, vocational training centre
7. Various shots, children going to school and in classroom
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Djimtola Garminta, Primary School Teacher:
“They lack the basic supplies and the classrooms are too crowded there are 80 students in a class and the conditions and the schools they don't exist. Even me- the director I don't even have a chair to sit down on.”
28 APRIL 2009, AMBOKO REFUGEE CAMP, SOUTHERN CHAD
9. Various shots, plant nursery
10. SOUNDBITE (French) Amadour Boubakar, UNHCR Chad:
“The exploitation of this land in addition to the need for wood has put an enormous amount of pressure on the environment. Because there are 12,000 of them working on a piece of land of 4,000 hectares that plays a role. It's because of this harmful situation that we activated a plan to preserve the environment.”
30 APRIL 2009, AMBOKO REFUGEE CAMP, SOUTHERN CHAD
11. Various shots, Amboko camp
Each day Mariam Kondjom wakes early to prepare fried bread to sell in the market. Since she and her large family fled to southern Chad, this is how she supports them. Back in Central African Republic she was a trader and traveled widely, but when the rebels came to their village, they fled.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mariam Kondjom, Refugee from Central African Republic:
“There was shooting, and when this got worse, we didn’t want to wait for the war to arrive. And because there was a lot of shooting we were obliged to run into the bush and hide there. We stayed there for three days before we went back. In the chaos I lost one of my children.”
There are almost 70,000 refugees from Central African Republic living in five camps and six other spontaneous sites in southern Chad. This influx dramatically changed life in the region, as the refugee population dwarfs that of the nearby villages. Opportunities are few here and so Mariam is anxiously waiting the possibility of getting a place in the recently opened training centre.
The vocational training centre opened about nine months ago and has a long waiting list. Built by the UN refugee agency and its partner GTZ, it trains the refugees and locals key trades like blacksmithing, woodworking and tailoring. The politics in this region are volatile and the economy and environment are fragile. So the relations between the small local population and the much more massive refugee population must be balanced.
To do that, the UN refugee agency makes sure all of their projects help both groups.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Clément Nangdoh Local Chief:
“The big advantage brought by the refugees, is the establishment of a health clinic and also the training centre. And also for the treatment, young people can be treated here now."
With increased skills it is hoped trade will also improve in Beureh. For the refugees, the ability to earn money means they will be less dependent on humanitarian aid.
This has also translated into the classroom. Six months ago, students had to walk about seven kilometers to class. Building a new secondary school closer to the camp and the village has increased attendance. It's an improvement but still, the classes are big and supplies are few.
SOUNDBITE (French) Djimtola Garminta, Primary School Teacher:
“They lack the basic supplies and the classrooms are too crowded there are 80 students in a class and the conditions and the schools they don't exist. Even me, the director I don't even have a chair to sit down on.”
Unlike Eastern Chad, the south is green and gets plenty of rain. Yet the impact of over 10,000 refugees almost brought the village of Beureh to the breaking point. An environmental action plan was put in place:
SOUNDBITE (French) Amadour Boubakar, UNHCR Chad:
“The exploitation of this land in addition to the need for wood has put an enormous amount of pressure on the environment. Because there are 12,000 of them working on a piece of land of 4,000 hectares that plays a role. It's because of this harmful situation that we activated a plan to preserve the environment.”
Projects like these have brought the two communities together and benefited all involved. When and if the conflict in Central African Republic abates, the legacy of the refugees will remain in the hands of the locals. But for now it continues to be a positive exercise in economic and environmental collaboration.
