It is reported that some 2000 Chadian rebels took over a large section of N’Djamena, the capital of Chad last Saturday morning forcing Chadian President Idriss Derby to take refuge in his palace and some 50.000 nationals fleeing into the Cameroon Northern towns of Kousseri, Yagoua and Figuil. At the moment of writing this brief, it is reported that the situation has reached a temporary stalemate however, speculation is high that both rebels and Chadian troops are at this time reassessing and awaiting the arrival of ammunition and backup forces.

Since the onset of fighting, the UN systems in Cameroon have been holding strategic planning meetings to deploy support to the thousands of refugees flocking into Cameroon. The UN Joint Mission working alongside the Cameroon government is already in the camps with basic food, health and material supplies.

Cameroon UNFPA Representative, Yao Faustin has also been holding emergency meetings with his staff to update on events, prepare for the reception of UNFPA – Chad international staff evacuated to Cameroon and to assess UNFPA’s Assistance to the refugees in the areas of Reproductive Health and Gender. UNFPA will make available on the field emergency reproductive healthcare equipments and materials, reinforce capacity by carrying out on the spot training for reproductive health workers and NGOs to sensitise on family planning, prevention and management of HIV, AIDS and STIs and gender based violence amongst others.

The group of eleven international UNFPA staff who arrived Cameroon from Chad last Saturday, were heartily welcomed into the Cameroon UNFPA family, provided adequate logistics and assistance and are already at work. Some will join the Cameroon Country team programmed to travel to the North to offer assistance and support to the refugees. The group of UNFPA Chadian nationals who have fled to these bordering towns will naturally join their counterparts at work.