During a war, families take what little they can carry and flee to any place that is safe. Sometimes this is a treacherous journey to someplace where there is little shelter, water, or food. This is the case for people who have run away from the fighting in Sudan. Refugees, mainly women and children, elderly and disabled persons, have arrived in one of the world’s poorest countries without a means to support themselves. More than six million people in Chad require assistance from aid organisations.

Along with our partner, LM International, Mission East is responding to this evolving emergency, focused on Dougui which is the sixth camp to open along the border with Sudan. The arrival of thousands of people has a deep impact on a local community, and talking together is important. People told us they needed clean water, latrines and a place to build gardens, along with the tools and seeds to grow vegetables and fruit trees for themselves and to sell for income. 

Our first project began within a short time, with construction on latrines, community meetings to agree on land for market gardens, and the arrival of tools and seeds. People chose the tools they needed and also received practical household items such as soap, buckets, brooms, and rakes. The local community agreed to set aside land where together they and the refugees could create market gardens.

Mission East og vores lokale partner har uddelt frø, så de flygtninge, der bor i Dougui-lejren, kan dyrke afgrøder. På billedet ses en ung kvinde, der sidder i marken iført gule klæder. I det lille vandløb renser hun de nyligt plukkede gulerødder fra hendes have i Dougui-lejren.
Sammen med Mission Easts partner, LM International, reagerer vi på det voksende behov for hjælp. Vores fokus er på Dougui-lejren, den sjette lejr langs grænsen til Sudan. På billedet ser vi en kvinde stolt fremvise det frugttræ, hun har plantet som en del af et projekt, der er blevet gennemført i samarbejde med Mission East og vores lokale partner.
Mission East og vores lokale partner har uddelt værktøjer til familierne i Dougui-lejren, så de kan passe på deres afgrøder. På billedet står en kvinde med et af værktøjerne i hånden. Hun har netop hakket afgrøder op af jorden, som skal bruges til aftensmaden senere.

Everyone involved in the gardens learned about composting and crop management. Maintaining trees, improving the soil structure, and creating organic solutions to control pests were also part of the training. After just a few short months, people told us that they have more access to water, and understand how to face environmental challenges. The committees working on ensuring peace between refugees and the surrounding community continue to meet together. 

We have made a start with this work in Chad, and the needs continue to grow. The crisis in Sudan is the most dire humanitarian situation in the world and we are moving forward to help more people who are suffering because of war.