IOM Chad signed an agreement on 16th March 2012 with the US Embassy in Chad for the donation of 50,000 US dollars to meet the basic needs of some 1,000 Chadian returnees who have fled the armed violence between Boko Haram and the Nigerian Army in Nigeria and who are currently stranded in Ngouboua, a border village in the region of Lac Chad. The donation will help fund much-needed food, non-food items, temporary shelter, medical and psychosocial services, protection and transportation of the returnees to their places of origin.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Qasim Sufi, IOM Chad's Chief of Mission, and Mr. Todd Holmstrom, Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Chad in the presence of high government officials, i.e., HE Mr. Mahamat Mbodou, Secretary of the State of the Ministry of Territorial Administration; Permanent Secretary of the National Agency for Refugees and IDPs, Mr. Mahamat Nour and other officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Social Action, Immigration and Security and the UN RC/HC, among others.

At the request of the Government of Chad, IOM conducted an assessment mission in Ngouboua at the end of February 12. After securing the funding from the US Embassy, IOM Chad sent to Ngouboua a team of nine staff members to meet the desperate needs of the stranded migrants in terms of food, non-food items, medical supplies, protection and transportation.

The signing ceremony took place in the IOM office in N'Djamena, and was covered by the national mass media (press, radio, television). The event was organized by IOM Chad; the Ministry of Territorial Administration; the Ministry of Immigration and Public Security; the Ministry of Social Affairs; the National Agency for Refugees and IDPs (CNARR); civil society organizations; and UN agencies (i.e., OCHA , WFP, UNICEF and WHO).

Contact

Dr. Qasim Sufi
Chief of Mission, IOM Chad
Office: +235 22 52 53 59/60 (Ext. 111)
Mobile: +235 62 90 06 74
Fax: +235 22 52 53 61