Chad: UN refugee agency relocates largest number of Sudanese in single day

In an effort to relocate tens of thousands of people fleeing civil war in western Sudan from the volatile border area to safer locations further inside Chad before the start of the rainy season in May, the United Nations refugee agency yesterday carried out its largest single daily transfer so far.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) convoys brought over 1,300 refugees to five camps throughout the vast region, including the first camp established in the southern section of the affected border zone, giving those living along a 300-kilometre stretch their first opportunity to move to a safer location.

In all, 15,428 refugees have been transferred to the five camps opened to date, UNHCR spokesman Kris Janowski told a news briefing in Geneva today.

The agency estimates that more than 110,000 Sudanese have fled across the border in the past year to escape conflict in the western Darfur region. Fighting continues between the Sudanese Government and rebel groups such as the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and militias. Another 700,000 people are thought to be internally displaced.

Overall, Sudan has the world's largest population of displaced persons, with some 3 million to 4 million across the vast territory of Africa’s largest country, following two decades on conflict, mainly in the south.