More than 200,000 people are currently living in Andre transit camps in East Chad, and hundreds of new displaced people keep arriving every day. The living conditions there are extremely tough, people are living in makeshift shelters and their most basic needs are not fully met. It is particularly true for access to safe water in enough quantities.
Despite their efforts, MSF and the other organisations in the camp only manage to provide around 8 to 10L per person and per day, half of what should normally be necessary according to humanitarian standards. The sanitation situation is also quite worrying, as currently in the camp, one latrine must be shared with 240 people and open defecation remains a current practice. The rainy season doesn’t make the situation any better as, complied with this lack of sanitation infrastructure, it even increases the risk of outbreaks of water-borne diseases, such as cholera, Hepatitis E, or diarrhea (which is one of the main cause of malnutrition) precisely those exact same diseases that can be prevented with access to safe water.
The situation in formal camps, such as Aboutengue camp which host at least 45,000 people, is not less worrying. With 3 boreholes available supplying 16 water points, people are only provided with 10L per day, per person. People may often be seen lining on a tens of meters to get their jerrycans filled. These difficulties also concern the surrounding host communities. Over the past year, MSF has been rehabilitating water hand pumps and distributing water filter to 50 families from the villages surrounding the camp. Activities that are crucial in preventing further tensions between host communities and refugees.