Oxfam Quebec

Published purpose

(February 2011) Until recently, eastern Chad, neighbouring Darfur in Sudan, was the site of a long running, low-intensity conflict, between the Chadian government and various rebel militias, which, at its peak, affected hundreds of thousands of people. Although the conflict has now subsided, the rate of return for displaced populations (now estimated at 170,500) has been slow and the region remains beset by general insecurity, chronic natural disasters (drought, flooding), and the continued presence of more than 319,000 refugees from Sudan and the Central African Republic, taxing the limited resources of the already desolate terrain and necessitating an international humanitarian response to meet the basic needs of Chadians and refugees alike. CIDA's support for this Oxfam-Québec project is helping to provide access to safe water and proper sanitation for an estimated 38,500 conflict-affected, displaced persons and host communities in eastern Chad. Oxfam is addressing the emergency water, sanitation and hygiene needs of these vulnerable populations through the rehabilitation and maintenance of water pump systems and wells; the rehabilitation of family and school latrines and hand-washing stations; the maintenance of waste management systems; the distribution of hygiene kits; and promotion of proper hygiene through community hygiene awareness campaigns and training exercises.