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| Red Cross assists thousands of refugees in Cameroon fleeing Chad 5 February 2008 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has released a total of 300,000 Swiss francs (US$ 272,000 / € 185,000) from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support Cameroon Red Cross Society which is currently involved in a major operation to help people fleeing the fighting between rebel and government forces in Chad. The funds will be used to assist displaced families in Kousseri, North of Cameroon providing them with tarpaulins, blankets, insecticide-treated mosquito nets and hygiene kits. The International Federation aims also to build 500 latrines and to provide clean drinking water. The number of refugees has been steadily growing during the last few days. It could already be as high as 30,000. Most of them have temporarily settled at a school and a handicrafts centre in Kousseri, in the Logone-Chari district of Cameroon. “The Cameroon Red Cross Society has mobilized more than 50 volunteers who have been registering refugees, providing them with first aid with the support of an emergency crisis committee set up with local authorities,” explains Javier Medrano, Head of the International Federation regional office for Central Africa based in Cameroon. A joint mission of the International Federation and the Cameroon Red Cross Society is bringing essential supplies such as blankets, mosquito nets and water tanks,” he adds. The most urgent need for refugees is access to clean water to avoid serious health problems. The only well in Kousseri dried up two days ago. Temperatures in the area can reach 40°C. Both non-food and food items are also needed in the area to cover the needs of the most vulnerable, especially those of women and children. An influx of refugees has also been reported in Ngala, at the border between Nigeria and Chad. According to the Nigeria Red Cross Society, about 1,000 people have already crossed the border. Nigeria Red Cross volunteers and staff in the region are providing assistance. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: In Kousseri/Cameroon (from tonight) Jean-Jack Kouoh, Information Officer, Tel: + 237 96298792 In Dakar Noora Kero, Communication Manager, West-Central Africa, Tel: + 221 77 637 66 96 Moustapha Diallo, Information Officer, Tel + 221 77 450 10 04 In Geneva Jean-Luc Martinage, Media Officer for Africa Tel: + 41 22 730 42 96 / + 41 79 217 33 86 Duty phone Tel: + 41 79 416 38 81 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 186 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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