Chad: Armed group enters Goz Amer camp, UNHCR concerned by growing insecurity

We are extremely concerned about growing insecurity in eastern Chad, including actions by a large armed group yesterday around the UNHCR-run camp at Goz Amer camp which houses some 17,700 refugees from Sudan's Darfur region. The armed group entered the camp in the afternoon during a food distribution. This action clearly frightened the refugees and is of deep concern to UNHCR and its partners. A group of 118 staff from various aid groups, including three staff from UNHCR, were unable to leave the camp yesterday evening. The situation in the camp last night and early this morning was reported as calm and humanitarian workers who had overnighted in the camp, could leave the camp.

We are watching the situation very closely. In all, UNHCR operates a dozen camps in eastern Chad that house more than 200,000 refugees from neighbouring Darfur. High Commissioner António Guterres has warned in recent weeks that unrest has now spread to both sides of the Sudan/Chad border, posing a growing risk to civilians, the displaced and humanitarian workers alike. Goz Amer camp is 95 km from the Sudan border.