Crisis watch

Chad

An upsurge in clashes between armed forces in northwestern Central African Republic at the end of 2017 has led to a large influx of refugees into southern Chad. Many people are living in makeshift shelters and refugees and host communities are struggling to find enough food to eat.  Neloumta Julienne, a mother who fled with her husband and children, said:

We have nothing left. Host populations share the little that they have with us. But what they have is not enough for them any more and they are almost broken. They do not eat enough. What will happen next?

CARE is seeking funds to provide shelter and sanitation support.

Madagascar

Heavy rains and flooding following tropical storm Eliakim have devastated parts of the north-east coast, causing 21 deaths and considerable damage to infrastructure and crops. Nearly 10,000 homes are reported destroyed or damaged, and more than 15,000 people displaced. CARE is participating in aerial assessments to consider response needs, as access to remote towns, communes and villages remains a major problem.

Papua New Guinea

An estimated 544,000 people in five highlands provinces have been affected by the recent earthquake, and more than 270,000 people are in immediate need of assistance, including access to water, food, and gender and protection support. This week we distributed food and non-food items in Dodomona (Western Province) where there are over 1,500 people displaced around the airstrip. We have supported the PNG Assembly of Disabled People to complete assessments in Southern Highlands Province; we are conducting a Rapid Gender Analysis to assess gender and protection needs; and we are leading the coordination of the Highlands Humanitarian Hub based in Mt Hagen.

Zambia

Since September 2017, more than 15,000 refugees fleeing from violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been registered at the Kenani Transit Centre in Luapula province. Refugees are in need of food, clean water, sanitation and soap, shelter materials and building support, medical services and treatment, protection from sexual and domestic violence, safe spaces for children, women and vulnerable people, and psychosocial counselling for trauma.

CARE has established a Coordinated Response Centre for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence at the Kenani Transit Centre. At the Mantapala Refugee Settlement, we are working (in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency) to construct 2,500 transitional shelters. We have trained 30 volunteers from both the refugee and the host communities to assist with construction. Six are providing technical support to people to construct their shelters, and the remaining 24 are constructing shelters for people with special needs.

Chad

CARE has assisted over 26,000 refugees from the Central African Republic who have fled to southern Chad, ensuring access to water and sanitation, distributing non-food items, dignity kits, plastic sheeting, and shelter kits, and working to prevent incidences of sexual and gender-based violence. More people are in need of support, with 1,700 more refugees registered in the last week alone. Read more in our factsheet:

Chad Refugee Factsheet March 2018