Ten to twenty thousand Sudanese refugees fleeing the fighting have already crossed to Chad and their number is growing day by day. Humanitarians are hard at work preparing for a massive influx of refugees, but the repercussions of the Sudanese conflict in eastern Chad are also economic and security-related.
In Koufroun, in the far east of Chad, the border with Sudan is materialized by a wadi, a strip of sandy land formed by a dry river. Perched on pick-ups, Chadian soldiers, assault rifles slung over their shoulders, scanned the horizon. A few shadows cross, carrying meager provisions on donkeys. “The border is closed to the transport of goods, but we cannot turn back these people in danger”, explains Lieutenant-Colonel Ali Mahamat Sebey, prefect of the Assoungha department.
“Opposite is Darfur. 200 meters away is the town of Tendelti. About 80% of its 32,000 inhabitants crossed the border after the Sudanese army deserted the locality”, continues the young official.
On the Chadian side, the refugees take shelter as best they can under a few dry, leafless trees. Behind a half-torn canvas, a young woman has just given birth to twins. “Here, we lack everything. In this period of Ramadan, fasting is no longer voluntary. We ensure their safety. Now, it’s up to the humanitarians to take over,” said the young woman.