Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team | Central African Republic

www.hdptcar.net

Briefing Kit | August 2007

Darfur refugees in Sam Ouandja,

Central African Republic

Humanitarian and Development Partnership Team | HDPT CAR | www.hdptcar.net

HDPT CAR | Briefing Kit | Darfur refugees in Sam Ouandja, CAR | August 2007

Briefing Kit | August 2007

Darfur refugees in Sam Ouandja,

Central African Republic

1. Overview
On 22 May 2007, the first group of Sudanese
refugees from the town of Daffak in South Darfur
arrived in Sam Ouanja in the northeast of the
Central African Republic. Over the following
days, hundreds more of refugees would arrive
after walking on foot for ten days or more. The
population and authorities in Sam Ouandja
welcomed the 2,646 refugees (according to the
latest registration in late July) and allocated
them land to settle and grow food. Despite the
fact that the local population itself suffered from
violent conflict in November and December
2006, and again in March 2007, the mayor
generously distributed some food to the
refugees before the arrival of aid organizations.

The Central African Government and humanitarian organizations – UN agencies and non-
governmental organizations – reacted quickly to this new situation. A rapid assessment mission
examined the situation in Sam Ouandja on 28 May 2007. The Minister of Social Affairs and the
Secretary General of the National Refugee Commission visited Sam Ouandja, underlining the
readiness of the Central African Government to support the humanitarian response in Sam Ouandja. A
number of aid organizations have committed to address the fundamental humanitarian needs of the
Sudanese refugees and the local population in Sam Ouandja.

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HDPT CAR | Briefing Kit | Darfur refugees in Sam Ouandja, CAR | August 2007

Organizations engaged in the humanitarian response

• Ministry of Family, Social Affairs and National Solidarity
− Assessment mission
• National Refugee Commission (CNR)
− Assessment and registration mission
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
− Camp management
− Registration
− Distribution of basic household items and plastic sheeting
− Support to education activities
− Support to food distributons
− General logistical support
• World Food Programme (WFP)
− Food distributions
− Transport and logistical support
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
− Food security
− Distribution of seeds and agricultural tools
• United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF)
− Distribution of basic household items
− Education and recreational activities
− Water and sanitation
− Health and nutrition
• World Health Organization
− Health services for the local population and the refugee community
− Capacity building at the health centre in Sam Ouandja
• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
− Reproductive health
• Triangle Génération Humanitaire (TGH)
− Distribution of food and basic household items
− Water and sanitation, logistical support
− Identification, registration and support to persons with specific needs
• International Medical Corps (IMC)
− Health services in Sam Ouandja and at the refugee site
− Address the nutritional situation among the refugee community

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HDPT CAR | Briefing Kit | Darfur refugees in Sam Ouandja, CAR | August 2007

2. Humanitarian Response
Food security
Given the logistical difficulties in the northeast of the Central
African Republic, with roads becoming almost impassable during
the rainy season, WFP had to transport high-nutrition biscuits to
Sam Ouandja by plane, to respond to the most urgent needs of
children, pregnant women and young mothers among the
refugees, shortly after their arrival. Since then, WFP has
transported 189 metric tons of food to Sam Ouandja, mostly for
the refugees. In addition, some 2,000 persons with specific needs
have been identified among the local population in Sam Ouandja,
who will also receive half-rations of food. At the refugee site, the
distributions, carried out by Tringle GH with support from
UNHCR, will cover full-rations until end-September. In July, the
FAO provided six metric tons of sorghum and 1,000 kits of
agricultural tools, which were also distributed by Triangle GH to
the refugees and the local population. This will enable refugees
to improve their food security in the longer run, and to become
self-sufficient.

Health and Nutrition

After WHO supported the local health centre during the first months after the arrival of the refugees
UNICEF and the NGO International Medical Corps (IMC) now provide medicines, medical equipment
and staff, to ensure access to primary and emergency health care for the refugees and the local
population. UNICEF also provided therapeutic milk products and nutritional supplements for children
under five years of age suffering from malnutrition. UNFPA has provided reproductive health kits. In
partnership with UNICEF, IMC established a health post at the refugee site in late July, to address the
nutritional situation and fight malnutrition. In end-July, registered cases of malaria and diarrhoea had
dropped, while numerous cases of malnutrition and anaemia were still registered, particularly among
children between 6 months and 5 years.

Water and Sanitation

UNICEF has installed a water treatment unit at the
refugee site so that a minimum of 15 litres of drinking
water are now available per person. The water unit,
which was transported to Sam Ouandja by WFP,
consists of a 30m3 water tank, two 5m3 bladders and
two water distribution points with six taps. While
chlorine is being transported to Sam Ouandja, UNICEF
distributed water purification tablets to ensure the safety
of the water. In addition, the water is being partially
treated. The NGO Triangle GH has deployed a water
and sanitation specialist and two assistants to Sam
Ouandja to ensure access to treated water. With the
help of volunteers of the Sudanese Red Cross among
the refugees, families are encouraged to boil water before utilisation, to increase the amount of
drinking water available.

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HDPT CAR | Briefing Kit | Darfur refugees in Sam Ouandja, CAR | August 2007

Shelter and household items

With logistical support from WFP, UNICEF and UNHCR
have sent a number of basic household items to Sam
Ouandja, including 600 pieces of plastic sheeting, 800
mosquito nets, 800 blankets, 400 kitchen sets, clothing,
soap and jerry cans. The NGO Triangle GH and UNHCR
distributed these items in Sam Ouandja, enabling the
refugees to temporarily settle and to protect themselves
against the rain, cold and mosquitoes.

Education
A primary school for 560 students has been opened at
the refugee site, following the distribution of UNICEF
school kits and the construction of temporary shelters by
UNHCR. Among the four teachers, there are two
Sudanese refugees and two inhabitants of Sam Ouandja,
who teach Arabic, French, English, as well as maths,
religion and music. A pre-school has been opened in July.

Protection
UNHCR and the National Refugee Commission have registered the entire refugee population in Sam
Ouandja. In late July, there were a total of 2,646 Sudanese refugees, including 1,508 children (747
boys and 761 girls), 587 women and 551 men. A more exhaustive registration will be carried out in the
coming weeks to ensure that activities respond to
specific needs. The Central African Government
and the local authorities have assured the refugees
and UNHCR that the security of the refugees will be
maintained. Currently, the security situation in Sam
Ouandja is calm, even if sometimes tense. All
stakeholders agree that the civilian character of the
refugee site needs to be maintained, and the
Central African authorities and UNHCR continue to
closely collaborate in this sense. The National
Refugee Commission is identifying a liaison officer
who will permanently represent the Central African
Government in Sam Ouandja.

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HDPT CAR | Kit d’information sur les réfugiés soudanais à Sam Ouandja en RCA | Aout 2007
www.hdptcar.net

0 100 200 300 400 500m

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Camp de Sam Ouandja (RCA)
ZONE SUD Division du camp par quartiers
20 hectares 1 1 Chef de quartier: Kamis Abdel Aziz Mahamat (Maire de Daffak / Soudan)

8 2 Chef de quartier: Aroun Hamat Daoud

3 Chef de quartier: Abass Mahamatissac

4 Chef de quartier: Ibrahim Mahamat Ali (Chef de groupe)

5 Chef de quartier: Abakar Aroun Adam

Limite du camp
Limite des zones habitées par les réfugiés

Mission d'évaluation du site de Sam Ouandja / TSS / OS / 27.06.2007

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