Chad Prayer News

Cholera outbreak in eastern Chad almost over

2011-09-14T20:52:00.003+01:00

September 14: An outbreak of cholera centered on Abéché, Chad is now nearly over. Please pray for the final cases to recover well, especially the children who were touched and whose ability to fight off the disease is not developed.

Despite crisis in Somalia, Chad is still the worst place to treat a sick child

2011-09-11T08:03:00.002+01:00

(AFP, Dakar): Children in countries facing a dearth of health workers, mainly in Africa, are five times more likely to die from illnesses than those in developed countries, a Save the Children study showed Tuesday.
The new Health Workers Reach Index by the UK-based NGO shows that Chad is the worst place to treat a sick child, while Switzerland is the best, with 13 of the worst 20 countries for a child to fall ill in, in Africa.
Famine and war-wracked Somalia is the runner up for worst place. Countries like Laos, Nepal, Afghanistan and Bangladesh feature at the bottom.
Finland, Ireland, Norway, Belarus and Denmark are also at the top of the list.
"At the moment, a child's survival depends on where he or she is born in the world. No mother should have to watch helplessly as her child grows sick and dies, simply because there is no one trained to help," said Aboubacry Tall, the NGO's West and Central Africa regional director.
Children in these countries -- which have less than the World Health Organisation minimum of just over two health workers for every thousand people - are five times more likely to die than those countries at the top of the index.
The charity hopes to highlight a global shortage of over 3.5 million doctors, nurses, midwives and community health workers two weeks before a crucial UN meeting in New York.
Millions of children risk dying in countries like Ethiopia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone because of a lack of healthworkers. Please pray with us for God to call competent health workers, not only to Chad, but to all the nations at the bottom of this list.

To read the full article from AFP, click here.

Djermaya refinery delivers energy crunch

2011-09-11T07:47:00.001+01:00

September 7, 2011: With the inauguration of the Chinese oil refinery in Djermaya, Chad, the market is doing its best to adjust to the new addition. The timing could not have been worse, as Chad finds itself in that period between the close of the rainy season and harvest, where the roads are at their worst.
Between a 40%+ tax on imported goods and the subsidized cost of production in Djermaya, imported gasoline and diesel just cannot compete with the price offered at the Chinese refineries.
Every gas station and fuel distributor in Chad (and perhaps elsewhere) wants to buy the cheaper fuel from the new refinery. As a result, suppliers are having difficulty keeping up with the demand, and everyone from motorcyclists to transportation companies to private companies who use generators, from N'Djaména to Goz Beïda, is struggling to provide their need for energy.
Please pray that immediate energy solutions may be found soon, and that long-term improvements will also be felt as time goes by.

President's project to build one hundred housing complexes in the N'Djaména area has taken off

2011-08-16T23:22:00.000+01:00

On the road which leads into N'Djaména from Moundou, the gathering of
materials and construction for President Idriss Déby Itno's housing
complex project (logements sociaux) has really taken off. Trucks
carrying cement, plywood and other building materials are arriving by
the hundreds, and the materials are beaing unloaded and transported to
several sites. In the distance overlooking the road where these
materials are arriving, one can see some of the housing complexes going
up. The buildings are simple but solid; a few of them already have the
roof and the second floor up, despite the rainy season which could have
potentially hindered progress on them. Each housing complex appears to
be able to hold at least twenty families comfortably, and seems to be
employing hundreds, perhaps thousands, of construction workers.
Please pray that the infrastructure required for these buildings would
be well-built, and that the communities built around these homes would
be peaceful places which God can bless.

Inauguration Day

2011-08-08T13:47:00.000+01:00

Pray for Chad and for President Idriss Déby Itno as he is officially
inaugurated for another term today.

Sudan, Chad to sign US$2b pact to build railway (PANA)

2011-08-08T13:46:00.000+01:00

A US$2 billion tri-partite agreement will be signed soon to implement
projects linking Sudan and Chad, via a railroad that would expand up to
Douala in Cameroon, a Sudanese ruling party member announced on Friday.

Hassan Bargo, the ruling party official responsible for the township
between Sudan and Chad, said the two countries would soon send a
delegation to China, where they would sign the contract with the Chinese
Import and Export Bank, which will provide the funds.
He said the money would be used to construct a railway line that extends
from Nyala in Sudan's western Darfur region up to Ndjamena (Chad), to
Abahe-Adre up to Nyala in the east and will go from Ndjamena up to
Douala in Cameroon.
There is a rail road linking Nyala to Port Sudan on the Red Sea in
Eastern Sudan region. With this link, the landlocked Chad will be
directly linked to the Red Sea with a train that runs a 120 kms an hour,
transporting commodities.
The Sudanese official said the projects would start in October this year.

(full article found at
http://www.africanmanager.com/site_eng/detail_article.php?art_id=17139)

Attacks on Birao, CAR

2010-11-30T20:39:00.000+01:00

The void left by the UN Security forces has resulted in a gap in security on the northeast border of the Central African Republic. As a result, Birao was taken over by the rebel Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace. Because the Chadian government has taken responsibility to fill the gap left by MINURCAT, they felt obliged to intervene in the situation on Saturday and Sunday.
As always, the civilans who flee their homes to hide and live in the bush are the most affected by these incursions. Please pray for peace and security to be restored in this town called Birao, and for the women and children affected by this crisis.

26 November 2010 Last updated at 13:07 GMT

Central African Republic rebels seize Birao town

Rebels in the Central African Republic have taken over the town of Birao after heavy fighting with the army, a UN official has told the BBC.

The CPJP rebels have seized key strategic places including the armed forces' command base and the airport.

Birao had been under UN guard since June but the peace mission ended two weeks ago.

No casualty figures have been released but one humanitarian worker was killed during the attack, the official said.

The head of the UN humanitarian agency in CAR, Jean-Sebastien Munie said a large number of rebels led the attack on Thursday.

"The rebels' attack took the national forces by surprise."

The CPJP rebels are the only militia which remains outside the country's peace process.

Birao lies in a highly unstable region near the borders with Sudan and Chad, both of which have several rebel groups of their own.

Full article at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11847968

Other articles on this subject:
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Rebels-Control-Central-African-Republic-Town-110623724.html
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g6Q0nIQrrv-j1ManLcd0hOYpRf7Q?docId=CNG.d0f4b0a91f937e48d59bf17b939b3eb2.3d1
http://www.innercitypress.com/car5alarm112610.html
http://news.google.com/news/story?hl=en&q=birao+central+african+republic&psj=1&wrapid=tlif12908962207181&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ncl=dDMhayLgdabWHqMw2H6kzIYRq9NRM&ei=ZoPxTLeVJ4K0lQfk97HxDA&sa=X&oi=news_result&ct=more-results&resnum=1&ved=0CBcQqgIwAA

UN: 24 dead, 70,000 homeless in Chad flooding

2010-10-02T15:03:00.001+01:00

Please pray for the families who have lost relatives, and the many who are trying to restore their homes, after unusually heavy rains. There has been a company "seeding" the clouds this year in Abéché, and it is possible that the job they did was a little too good, resulting in this.

September 13, 2010 -- Updated 1434 GMT

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
    * Another 46 people are dead from cholera
    * Overall, nearly 145,000 people are affected by flooding
    * The affected areas were hit by drought last year

(CNN) -- Some 70,000 people have been left homeless by flooding triggered by heavy rains in the central African nation of Chad, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Sunday.

Twenty-four people have been killed and 29 others injured, said Ute Kollies, head of the office's branch in Chad. Forty-six others have died from cholera that broke out in the wake of the floods. Some 700 people are suffering from cholera, she said.

Overall, nearly 145,000 people in Chad have been affected by the flooding, and that number is rising, she said.

"Today is the worst, and it's getting more and more out of hand," she said. "This is the crisis point, at the moment."

Flooding has affected more than half of Chad's regions, she said. The same regions were hit by extreme drought last year. About 31,500 hectares (77,000 acres) of crops have been destroyed.

About 6,000 people have been displaced, Kollies said. They have moved in with family or sought shelter in schools and open areas.

Most roads are closed in the affected areas, meaning aid has to be airlifted, Kollies said.

Chad's rainy season typically stretches from June through the end of September, but it began earlier than usual this year. Rains were very heavy from the beginning, she said.

CNN's Mitra Mobasherat contributed to this report.

Squatter dies defending his claim

2010-07-21T12:04:00.000+01:00

According to "Le Progrès" Edition 2947 and testimonies from observers,
on July 19th around 8:30 AM, as a mixed force of military and police
forces was working to reclaim a property occupied illegally near ASECNA
and the Ecole des Martyrs, a youth of fourteen years of age climbed on
to the roof of the home and opened fire with a machine gun on the troops
assembled there. The force responded in kind, and the young man was
killed in the altercation, but not before taking at least three soldiers
with him, and wounding several others.
There are many properties being occupied illegally throughout N'Djaména,
and most of them are occupied by Zaghawa and other northern tribesmen.
When a property is occupied illegally, it is impossible to collect
utility payments from those who use the services for free under threat
of bodily harm.
With the exchange of fire between illegal occupant and police forces
that occurred on Monday, tensions are high, and several important people
have been mobilized to lower the tension.
Please pray for those who have been wounded in this attack to be healed,
and those who have lost a relative in the line of duty to be comforted.
Also, please pray that those who are living in these properties will
find more satisfactory places to live elsewhere.

Morning Explosions in N'Djaména

2010-07-05T09:26:00.001+01:00

July 5, 2010: A little after Seven o'clock this morning, massive explosions were heard towards the Chari River, near the bridge, throughout N'Djaména and the surrounding area. This is the result of a fire that burned in the Main Customs Office, burning it to the ground. It is not yet known whether the fire was accidental or deliberate.
The customs agency of Chad is the venue through which most of the goods in the country pass. Please pray for those whose jobs and projects have been affected by this loss.

Oxfam Worker Freed

2010-06-19T17:09:00.001+01:00

By Ali Abba Kaya (AFP) – 3 days ago

N'DJAMENA — This past Wednesday, on June 16, a dual-national Swiss and
British Oxfam aid worker arrived in the Chad capital Wednesday after
being freed by troops from nine days' captivity at the hands of
kidnappers he said held him in the dark.

Hubert Ballaman, 57, arrived in N'Djamena on a government-chartered
plane a day after he was freed by soldiers from a joint Chadian and
Sudanese force which stormed the kidnappers' village hideout near the
border with Sudan.

Ballaman was captured on June 6 in Abeche, the main city in volatile
eastern Chad where several aid groups and UN agencies work with hundreds
of thousands of displaced people and refugees from the brutal conflict
in Darfur.

"I was locked up all day in a small room and they let me out at night,"
Ballaman told AFP on the plane from Abeche.

"I did not see daylight for eight days. I had no outside contact. When I
asked to contact Oxfam, they stopped me," he said.

Ballaman, who had an emotional reunion with his wife, said he did not
know who had seized him. Authorities said they had arrested two of the
kidnappers but did not day who they were.

"I was not hurt, I was well treated. I am relieved but very tired," he said.

Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jsgZRSBbZDMw_a4hdiAAZ3x4k3sQ

Thank you SO much for praying for Mr. Hubert Ballaman during his
captivity! As we learn of further needs to pray for Chad, we will let
you know...

Oxfam aid worker abducted last Sunday in Abéché

2010-06-12T21:45:00.000+01:00

Tue Jun 8, 12:35 pm ET

N'DJAMENA (AFP) – Armed men seized a Western aid worker with the British charity Oxfam in eastern Chad, officials said Tuesday.
The aid worker was snatched while leaving a restaurant on Sunday in Abéché, the main city in eastern Chad, where aid groups and UN agencies work with refugees, a humanitarian source said on condition of anonymity.
The worker with a Congolese colleague and a Chadian driver who were released about 70 kilometers (45 miles) east of Abéché, the source said.
Chad Interior Minister Ahmat Mahamat Bachir confirmed the kidnapping and said security forces were looking for the abductors. "We are doing all we can to find him," he said.

Read the full article at the Yahoo News Website (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100608/wl_africa_afp/chadkidnapaidoxfam_20100608163619)

Click here to learn more about Oxfam's efforts to help meet practical needs worldwide (http://www.oxfam.org.uk/applications/blogs/pressoffice/?p=13168&v=newsblog)

We do not yet know this man's name, but will pass it on to you as soon as we find out so that we can pray together for him by name.

Let us pray together for his safe return, and that God would keep him safe, wherever he is.

Oxfam aid worker abducted last Sunday in Abéché

2010-06-10T22:48:00.000+01:00

Black bags declared illegal in Chad

2010-05-30T16:00:00.000+01:00

May 30 (N'Djamena): The ever-present "leida", or black bag, has been
deemed illegal in the entire country of Chad. This is part of the
Chadian government's desire to clean the country up, and is a very needy
step toward a better environment. It was so bad that black plastic bags
trapped in thorn bushes have often been a sign to travelers that one is
approaching a larger city. A fine of 50,000 CFA when a merchant is
found filling a black bag has become the best deterrent.
However, with the disappearance of this necessary eyesore, what is
a poor merchant to do? Newspaper is one alternative used, another is
for the buyer to bring their recipient to be filled in the market. The
Nigerian bags are being divided into four pieces and sewn back together
to make small bags for meat.
It just goes to show that the Chadian people are some of the most
flexible people around, able to adjust to any challenge that comes their
way with a creative solution. Please pray that God would bless this
creativity to prosper the country of Chad once again, and pour out his
blessing on all the peoples who call this nation home.

CHAD: Re-assessing the aid footprint

2009-12-15T03:42:00.004+01:00

ABÉCHÉ, 7 December 2009 (IRIN) - When an aid vehicle is stolen in the eastern Chad town of Abéché, some people cheer and say the aid organization got what it deserved, according to the French think-tank Emergency Rehabilitation Development (URD), which is preparing a report on the impact of international aid groups on Abéché residents.

“There is the perception that humanitarian organizations have driven up the cost of living [in the town] - water, electricity, housing,” said the group’s director, François Grünewald. “There is a view that carjackings are a form of justice, like Robin Hood taking from the rich. People do not see what these groups are doing in the field.”

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is losing two all-terrain vehicles a day in the east, senior external relations adviser Måns Nyberg told IRIN. Abéché was the most affected region in 2008 and saw one of the highest rates of crime ever against aid agencies in 2009.

Since the arrival of refugees from Darfur in late 2003, a dozen UN agencies and dozens of NGOs have arrived in Abéché. Prior to 2003 there had been only one UN agency and two non-profit organizations. More than 1,000 members of the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) - sent to boost border security and facilitate refugee and Chadian returns - have also used Abéché as a base since March 2009.

Foreigners “more wasteful”

The town’s water system was ill-prepared for the influx of aid workers and peacekeepers, said URD’s Grünewald. “Locals have a different relationship with water than foreigners who are more wasteful and do not conserve.”

Foreigners have also driven up housing and food costs in Abéché to levels “out of reach of vulnerable residents,” he added.

Prices for rice, flour, meat, millet, sorghum and sugar in Abéché have increased by an average of 51 percent in the last seven years based on a 2009 URD market survey. Chad’s inflation rate in 2008 was just over 3 percent, according to the African Development Bank.

Marcel Nguebaroum, a paediatric ward nurse at Abéché’s regional hospital, said: “I could get a chicken for 600 francs [US$1.38] before 2004… and a room cost me 2,500 francs [$5.75]. Now a chicken costs 3,500 [$8]… and owners can ask for whatever price they want for housing because they think we are somehow able to pay. We are all expected to pay what you [foreigners] are able to pay.”

Nguebaroum said that though foreigners earn many times more than locals, prices are set according to foreign salaries.

There is no doubt humanitarians have put pressure on local resources, for which they have tried to compensate, MINURCAT spokesman Penangnini Touré told IRIN.

"MINURCAT is using its own resources for the most part...MINURCAT has drilled its own wells to provide for its own water needs. Drinking water is purchased from a local provider, and then distributed to staff members on a regular basis. MINURCAT is also providing electricity not only to its staff members, but in some instances to the local population thanks to UN generators that have been set up in every area where the mission is present."

MINURCAT has also rehabilitated air strips, which are turned over to Chadian authorities after MINURCAT's departure; helped to improve local security; and boosted employment by hiring more Chadians than international staff, Touré told IRIN. "The positive impact is, in fact, far greater than the negative."

But URD's Grünewald told IRIN that security remains spotty in the eyes of local residents and that most national employees working for humanitarians come from regions other than Abéché.

Scaling down in Abéché?

Grünewald said it is time to scale back humanitarian operations in Abéché. “The needs have changed since the outbreak of the crisis. The hub has grown but has lost its relevance.”

After government re-zoning, most of the refugees and internally displaced Chadians are in areas that fall under the administration of Sila region, whose capital Goz Beida is 220km south of Abéché. “What is the use of a mid-way presence [in Abéché] that has created an enormous amount of tension?” asked Grünewald. Before Sila was hived off from the Ouaddaï region in 2008, more of the half-million refugees and internally displaced Chadians were handled out of Abéché.

International Rescue Committee's Phillipe Adapoe told IRIN most NGOs are very concerned about the pressure humanitarians have added to local conditions. "This is one of the reasons that IRC has decided to reduce its presence in Abéché. We will be moving some support staff to [the capital] N'djamena early next year."

UNHCR is expected to shut down its Abéché office and transfer about 70 staff to N'djamena or closer to the camps in January 2010 in order to “streamline its operations”, UNHCR’s Nyberg told IRIN.

MINURCAT is in the early discussion stages of moving staff out of Abéché, but nothing has been decided yet, said spokesman Michel Bonnardeaux.

When asked whether moving aid workers would simply shift the price and resource pressures elsewhere, URD’s director told IRIN that if the impact of humanitarian work is visible to locals, then the “aid footprint” is lessened.

“There is little added value in staying in Abéché because it is still far from the field. But in Goz Beida the impact of humanitarian actions is more apparent, which lessens tension between the humanitarian community and residents. There is no way to avoid the aid presence in the east. But it is possible to minimize and diffuse the footprint and avoid a negative impact on local life.”

Struggles

2009-12-11T03:53:00.005+01:00

Here are some of the latest struggles facing Chadians:

Wood charcoal has been outlawed throughout the country, but this ban can only be enforced in the cities and big towns. This is the fuel used for cooking by the typical Chadian household, as gaz is expensive.
Hundreds of homes have been razed in the capital city, supposedly to build more modern ones, but it seems unusual that most of the neighborhoods affected represent ethnic groups that were against him in the attempts of the rebellion to overthrow him.
Police were called to round up copies of the Chadian newspaper "Le Temps," ostensibly because its papers were not in order, but the president took great offence to an article written about him, to the point that he deported the Cameroonian reporter who wrote it. Freedom of the press is being lost, a sign of the times
Boys, teens and young men are being rounded up in cities and refugee camps, and brought to training camps in the middle of the desert for military training and forced enlistment.
Not to mention the long-standing struggles of Chadians: a difficult hot season, one of the worst health systems in the world, insecurity and troubles.

More than ever, Chad needs our prayers. Our desire is that President Déby and his government would have a heart for the welfare of all Chadians, so that they would prosper, and his future would be secured. The suffering innocent Chadians are facing is tremendous. We need a miracle.
For more than a decade we have been praying for change; we are looking to God to help Chad by His grace.

2009-07-22T01:20:00.003+01:00

In Chad, the concept of property is not the same as we may be used to.
It is very difficult to obtain land titles, to set boundaries, or even to have a reliable place to live ...
Here's what one of our friends wrote a few days ago:

Dear Families and Friends,
There are at least 2,500 families who have had to abandon their homes. This includes about a total of about 12,000 people. During the past two weeks, the residents of the Jardin d'Essai suburb in the town of Farcha near the capital fought so that their homes would not be destroyed. Every day the news was different: one day the news was, "Everything will be destroyed!", and the next day it would be "The suburb will not be destroyed!"
Two days earlier, the neighborhood was in a festive mood, because we thought we had obtained the victory. But yesterday afternoon, the definitive and overwhelming news came: At 6:00 AM, the bulldozers will be here. "
We worked all night to help some of our friends who lived in the neighborhood. Remove the aluminum roofing, get the wood, doors, and window frames... Everyone worked to recover as much as possible of the construction equipment that made up their homes.
Many people had lived in the neighborhood for 30, 40 or 50 years. Thousands of children were born here, and know nothing more than this, their neighborhood. The trauma the families in this neighborhood are feeling is very significant! This morning, the bulldozers arrived and began their work of destruction. Many voices were raised with opinions about the reasons for this decision, but it is possible that we will never know what the reason was! Only God knows and will judge!

Prayer Requests:

Pray for all these families who have been driven from their homes.
Pray for those who do not yet have a place to relocate.
Pray for the authorities, that they may be guided by God in their decisions.
Pray without tiring, so that the light of the Gospel would bring real change.
The Jardin d'Essai Church was also demolished. Pray for the Christians and the Church of Chad who have been hit hard to be salt and light.

Here dear friends is a situation that affects not only a section of the population, but also a church and many of its members.
What to do? As you read, we must pray. But we have also taken the decision to help. The mission will assist the Pastor of the Jardin d'Essai Church.
A steering group was set up in Chad, with an initial list of about thirty families arrested and an initial identification of provisional solutions to this emergency.

To find out how you can financially assist families affected by this tragedy, please visit the AMIP website.

Claire and Stephanie have been released!

2009-05-07T18:52:00.004+01:00

Thank you for praying! Two weeks after we began to "storm heaven" together for Claire Dubois and Stephanie, Medical workers in DarFur for Aide Medicale Internationale, they were released from captivity!
Our hope is that the One who has heard us on behalf of Claire and Stephanie Jodoin to turn hearts of the leaders, will also intervene in Chad in this turbulent time.
Read the full article with pictures of Claire and Stephanie, and let us rejoice together!

Chadian army, rebels clash in east: government

2009-05-07T17:49:00.003+01:00

NDJAMENA (AFP) — Chadian troops clashed Thursday with rebels in the east of the country, both sides said, each claiming initial victory in the first direct confrontation since the rebels invaded from neighbouring Sudan.

"The first ground clashes have just taken place at Am-Deressa, 10 kilometres (six miles) south of Am-Dam," Communications Minister Mahamat Hissene said.

"The government forces gained the upper hand and mopping up operations are continuing."

He gave no casualty figures.

"There was violent fighting with the troops of (President Idriss) Deby, from 5:00 am (0400 GMT," rebel alliance spokesman Adberaman Koulamallah confirmed to AFP. "It was very violent. The fighting lasted for hours."

Koulamallah also claimed success, saying that the battle "turned in our favour. Government forces are completely routed. We occupy Am-Dam. The objective is still (the capital) Ndjamena."

Am-Dam is 110 kilometres north of Goz Beida and more than 100 kilometres south of Abeche, the two towns used as bases by most relief agencies working in east Chad to help 450,000 refugees and displaced people.

The UN refugee agency on Thursday said it has pulled all but two of 20 staff out of camps for 60,000 people because of instability caused by the insurgency since the rebels crossed into Chad from west Sudan on Monday.

The decision echoes one Wednesday by the UN World Food Programme in the same region, because three rebel forces were advancing across Chad from the eastern border, stating that their sights were set on the capital Ndjamena.

"All the other humanitarian agencies are going to do the same" because the situation is "too volatile and too unstable," Serge Male, representing the High Commissioner for Refugees in Chad, but he stressed that "we hope this won't last."

The UNHCR has meanwhile provided for "very short term" measures to keep about 20,000 Sudanese refugees at Koukou Angarana and about 40,000 Chadians displaced by previous internal conflicts, Male said.

The Chadian government has accused Sudan of backing the rebel assault that started on Monday, while the ink was scarcely dry on a peace pact between the fractious neighbours brokered in Doha by Qatar and Libya.

Rebels of the Union of Forces for Resistance (UFR) claimed in a statement that they captured government military vehicles during a brief land clash on Tuesday between Tizzi and Haraz Mangueigne.

Koulamallah claimed Thursday that the rebels had "more than a thousand vehicles," but said they had been attacked each day from the air by helicopters and bombers flying very high. "Our air defence works fine," he added. "That is not a problem."

The government has so far stated that it carried out one air attack on the rebels advancing across the hot, arid south of the central African country in four-by-four vehicles.

Diplomatic sources said that on Wednesday the rebels entered Am-Dam and Am-Timan, 180 kilometres south of Goz Beida, where they encountered no resistance.

However, the military activity, which follows a thwarted rebel bid last year to seize Ndjamena after they entered the capital, has led to mounting fears for some 450,000 refugees and displaced people in camps in eastern Chad.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon "is following developments in eastern Chad with increasing concern," the UN said in a statement late Wednesday, calling on Chad and Sudan to resume peace talks and urging respect for UN humanitarian operations.

Chadian Interior and Public Security Minister Ahmat Mahamat Bashir accused Sudanese President Omar El-Beshir of ordering "mercenaries" to attack Chad and vowed that the rebels would be wiped out.

Peace between Chad and Sudan is regarded as essential to any lasting settlement to a six-year-old uprising in Sudan's western Darfur region, where the Chadian rebels have rear bases.

In February last year, rebels battled their way to Ndjamena in western Chad in a bid to overthrow President Idiss Deby Itno before being beaten back with logistical help from some French forces.

Pray for peace in Chad.

Original Article: Click here

Chadian Rebels Advance on the Capital

2009-05-07T15:45:00.004+01:00

Radio Netherlands, May 6: In Chad, rebels supported by Sudan have begun advancing towards the capital Ndjamena, says a spokesperson for the Chadian Union of Forces of the Resistance (UFR). The UFR is an alliance of eight rebel groups.

The spokesperson says there have been skirmishes between its forces and Chadian soldiers in the south-east of the country near the Sudanese and Central African Republic border. The rebels say they have destroyed 9 armored vehicles and captured 12 others.

Earlier this week, Chad accused Sudan of supporting an attack by the UFR. The Chadian rebels, who have bases in Sudan, reportedly crossed the border on Monday. The Sudan Tribune quoted Chad's Communications Minister Mahamat Hissene, who said the rebels had penetrated around 100 kilometers inside Chadian territory.

Sudan and Chad signed an agreement to normalize relations at the weekend in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Mr Hissene accused Sudan of sending armed forces across the border while "the ink has yet to dry on the Doha accord".

Today, May 7th, the Chad Minister of the Interior Ahmat Mahamat Bachir went on Chadian radio, saying that the rebels had been defeated. For their part, the rebels affirm that they are continuing to advance on the capital city. One thing is true, the fighting continues. Please pray for blessing on Chad in these tumultuous times, for Chadian families, aid workers, and other foreigners.

Click here to read the original article

Please pray for Claire and Stephanie, held hostage in Sudan

2009-04-14T15:12:00.005+01:00

These two humanitarian workers are being held in Sudan with the demand that those involved in the Zoe's Ark aid organization be re-tried, which seems unlikely. Please pray for their soon release, and safety while in the hands of their captors.

The original article from the BBC can be found here.

Threat to kill two Sudan hostages

Hundreds of thousands of people need aid in Darfur

The kidnappers of two aid workers in Darfur say they will kill them, unless six French aid employees convicted of abducting children in Chad are retried.

Chad's pardons two years ago for the French aid staff, three months after they were jailed, sparked public anger.

The Aide Medicale Internationale staff, a French and a Canadian woman, were seized in south Darfur a week ago.

The kidnappers have also threatened to target French interests if their demands are not met.

Armed men kidnapped the pair from their compound in South Darfur's capital, Nyala, about 100km (65 miles) from the border with Chad on 4 April.

'Treated well'

The pair have been named as Canadian Stephanie Joidon and her French colleague, Claire Dubois.

One of the kidnappers, who named his group as the Falcons for the Liberation of Africa, told Reuters news agency by telephone: "We demand France open the case of the Zoe's Ark criminals and judge them through a fair court.

"If the French government is not serious in negotiations with us and does not respond to our request, we will kill the two aid workers."

In 2007, six employees of French humanitarian group Zoe's Ark were convicted of trying to fly more than 100 children out of Chad to Europe without authorisation.

The group, who denied the charges, were sentenced to eight years of hard labour by a Chadian court, but were pardoned in March 2008 by Chad's president.

The kidnappers allowed one of their captives to speak to media by satellite telephone on Sunday.

Ms Joidon told AFP news agency: "We are being treated well. We do not know where we are. We wish [our families] much courage. We hope that all ends well."

It was the second kidnapping of aid workers since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant last month for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Four workers with Medecins Sans Frontieres were kidnapped at gunpoint from their Darfur home on 11 March and later released.

Sudan expelled 13 aid agencies immediately after the indictment of Mr Bashir.

A university rector savagely beaten by the police in Chad

2009-03-31T20:24:00.008+01:00

Please pray for Dr. Isaac and his family, for healing and strength. Pray also for Chad in this terrible time: for wisdom for the leaders, and provision for those who are going without and living in pain, both inside and out...

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27

APA: Dr. Isaac Danadji, the Rector of the University of Moundou, was savagely beaten last Saturday by the police for using coal in the refectory of the University, APA learned from sources. Moundou is the economic capital of Chad, 450 km (280 mi) south of N'Djamena.
Charcoal use has been prohibited in Chad for three months by the authorities.
When informed of the use of charcoal at the university, heavily armed brigade troops for the protection of the environment raided the premises of the institution located about fifteen miles north of the town of Moundou.
The soldiers found two bags of coal, which they burned in the courtyard of the University, causing anger among the students.
The brigade fired shots into the air to stop the grumbling of students, causing a real disturbance on campus.
For daring to protest against such brute force, the rector was knocked out by the officers of the brigade who then copiously beat him before throwing him into the back of their truck like a bag of coal, barefoot.
Mr. Danadji was then imprisoned for several hours before being released, having been completely disfigured, according to testimonies of the students.
The same fate was reserved for the vice-rector, Dr Gaston Tarkoudjal, who wished to come to the aid of his supervisor.
Since this incident, all classes have been interrupted at the University of Moundou.

The original article in French is posted at tchadactuel.com

Chad charcoal ban enflames public

2009-02-02T21:02:00.001+01:00

By Celeste Hicks
BBC News, N'Djamena

A ban on the use of charcoal in Chad is making life hard for people already struggling with high food prices.

Families are being forced to burn furniture, cow dung, rubbish and roots of plants in order to cook.

Since the clampdown was announced - officially in order to help the environment - charcoal has become almost impossible to find.

"I'm using wild products which I've harvested, such as palm fruits," said Nangali Helene, who lives in the capital N'Djamena.

We understand the need to protect the environment but we find it bizarre that the measures are so brutal and so sudden

Marie Larlem
Human rights activist

In pictures: Charcoal in Chad

"But they make us ill - they don't burn properly and they give off a horrid smoke and smell. Last night we started burning the beams from the roof of our outhouse."

The price of a small bundle of dead wood has shot up from a few hundred CFA francs to 5,000F CFA ($12; £8).

Feelings are running high in the city, with the main opposition coalition organising a peaceful mass action over the next few days.

Please pray for those suffering as a result of this government ban, and for the government of Chad.

To read the full article from the BBC, please click here.

Life in N'Djaména just got harder

2009-01-24T17:51:00.005+01:00

In a bold move, the Chadian government has forbidden the use of wood charcoal in the capital city. According to a press release by the Party for Liberties and Development, wives and mothers no longer know how to prepare food for their children and their husbands. The price of fava beans, which the youth love so much to eat, has more than doubled. Cereal prices have soared in all markets. Finding firewood and coal, the only sources of domestic energy for the vast majority, has become an ordeal.

The Government has also adopted a series of tax measures in its finance law which will make the lives of the poorest Chadian citizens very, very difficult. They will be increasing the prices of construction materials, placing levy taxes on various houses and imposing other taxes which will eventually cause everyone to be homeless. Not long ago, the Government massively destroyed the homes of peaceful N'Djaména residents. Today it prevents them from preparing food, tomorrow it will increase the burden of taxes.

It is hard to understand how the Chadian government can prohibit the use of wood and coal, without proposing domestic energy alternatives. Many people will interpret this situation in a negative light, saying that the Chadian government has once again shown its contempt for all Chadians. Please pray that they will be aware of the danger of their acts to the security of their future, and that viable solutions would be found for them to promote the growth and development of their nation.

Links:
The original press release
IRIN article: Panic, outcry at government charcoal ban

When will the "Big Attack" come?

2009-01-04T15:09:00.004+01:00

In the eyes of many, the question is not "if", but "when"

For those living beside the Sudanese border, especially in Abéché, the big question is "When will the rebels attack?" Chadians and foreigners living there expect something to happen in January or February. President Déby is reported to be nervous about his position. Tchadactuel.com reports that one of his spies heard those at a celebration of Timan, who is one of the important military officials, saying "Mabrouk, Mabrouk" (Congratulations) to him. The spy assumed that they had gathered to plan a rebellion against the President, and those at the party were congratulating their new leader.

As a result, President Déby's Sudanese mercenaries began going around from house to house, confiscating weapons from all those who could potentially be in a rebellion against him.

At the same time, tchadactuel.com spoke of inter-rebel fighting in Bahai last week. If this report is true, it does not bode well for the united front the rebellion would need to succeed if they are to remove the authority from President Déby.

Friends in N'Djaména report that the president cannot trust his northern brothers, so he is turning to Christians for help. Last month he held a big Christmas party and invited many of his Christian friends to participate, all expenses paid. Since 2006, everyone in Chad has been anticipating the "big attack" that will overthrow President Déby and usher in a new government. So for three years, life in Chad has been characterised by fear, speculation and concern for the future.

With the intelligence capabilities at their disposal, many western governments lean to the pessimist's side, and are asking their nationals to think very seriously about living and working in Chad. Many countries are warning those holding their passports that if they are in Chad, their security becomes their own responsibility. Pessimists expect a new government to be more restrictive, more Islamic, more like Sudan and restrictive of religious freedom for non-Muslims.

A small number of optimists believe that a new government will bring peace and positive advancement to Chad at last. So some are praying for the rebellion to come quickly, others are praying that it would never come. Of course, the ideal situation would be that the government transition would come in a peaceful manner.

We pray that the Father who holds all days in His hands would be with the poor and the oppressed, the rich and the authorities, on that day, if it is to come. We can all thank God for each day that passes without a rebel attack entering Chad. Silence on this blog is a sign of God's mercy at work in this struggling nation!

And our prayers are especially with our friends who have been willingly living under this threat with a desire to make an Eternal difference in this country. We hear that there is an openness like never before to the Hope that only Christ can bring. God is blessing Chad in her greatest time of uncertainty.

Trouble is Brewing

2008-10-07T13:42:00.007+01:00

The Article below shows us what has been simmering under the surface all during the rainy season from May until now. The government forces and rebels are getting ready for the greatest clash of the Twenty-First Century. Please surround our beloved Chad in prayer at this time, that on the other side of all these troubles, Chad will find the peace and stability she so desperately needs...

October 7 (www.tchadactuel.com):

The Season of All Possible Hazards

The rainy season is over and everyone looks to the East. They are not to examining the sky to see if there will be rain or not. Rather, it is to try to discover when the "contact" between President Déby and the rebels will take place with its trail of misery for all Chadians. This "contact" will certainly happen, and both sides are preparing ardently. The rebels claimed that at the end of the rainy season, they will go hunting for Déby. As for President Déby, he has even suggested a date: October. Déby stated clearly in Amdjeress that his objective is to chase Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir out of power, and then he the rebels will disappear all by themselves.

Both sides are full of confidence and assurance. Déby has a serenity that he did not know before. The rebels say he is just putting a good face on a bad situation. While Déby has amassed an impressive armada of light and heavy weapons, transport planes, bombers, helicopters with night vision capabilities, etc... He has also sent all his war resources (physical and human) to the east. He has also invested heavily in buying consciences, both those of individuals and of ethnic groups. He does not skimp on ways and means, for he has plenty of them! Déby has allowed himself a stroll in Amdjeress, a region with a strong RFC presence. The rebels sneer, "Indeed, it is easy to go to Amdjeress when all the wadis are uncrossable because of the wetness of the season." In this rosy picture, there are few shady areas.

First of all, there is a perceptible tension within the President's family, along with various speculations: Déby reportedly escaped an assassination attempt, a palace revolution is apparently underway, and so on. Then his ally the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) is not in great shape because numerous deserters are bleeding out of their ranks, along with a strong lack of morale within the JEM ranks who are tired of being the mercenaries of Déby. There has been changes within the mobile regiment, Déby's shock troops. Tahir Erda, the Commander of the regiment, has been recalled to N'Djamena and has been replaced by a cousin of President Déby. He claims that this is simply a tactical decision because Tahir has remained long on the eastern front. Tahir Erda is the heart and lungs of the Déby defense forces. His being recalled from the eastern front just when the battle is about to begin is not at all a "tactical decision". Nor was the dismissal of Houno Abeguer Gouna a tactical decision, who is a strong fighter who is well known within the clan for not being afraid of a fight. We also learned that Déby's entourage when he traveled to Amdjeress asked permission to behead Younousmi. General Mahamat Saleh Brahim, the heat of the GNNT supported by Daoussa, is all the more determined to behead him, because he bluntly accuses Younousmi of being the principal financial donor for the rebellion! What a rat Younousmi is: as he provides financial help to Déby, he also provides financial backing to the rebellion! In another sign of impending shadows, desertions have resumed with a vengeance. There is not a day that goes by when at least one government soldier walks away and joins one of the rebel forces, often he bringing his vehicle with him. To close the brackets on the dark side of the troubles that seem to be working against Déby, it should be noted that the trench dug around N'Djamena has fallen in and become a very sandy dry river bed. Even the rains have voted in favor of the rebellion.

Contrary to the expectations of all their faithful supporters, the rebels have not at all advanced in terms of unity. Meetings take place within meetings, small discussions are happening within small discussions, and still nothing concrete has emerged from all this. Contrary to the concern of supporters who are watching this situation unfold from a distance, the rebels are highly optimistic and assure them that they will act in a united fashion, no matter what form their actions may take. AMEN!

Mahamat Ahmat
N'Djamena

Steve Godbold is Released!

2008-07-27T02:59:00.004+01:00

July 25, 2008 [TEAM]: The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) is very pleased to announce the release of Cash Stephen Godbold, a missionary held captive in northern Chad for more than nine months.

Godbold was released by his captors in Chad on Thursday evening, July 24th. He was released near the town of Bardai in northern Chad, and is presently a guest of local officials in Bardai. Arrangements are in process to send an aircraft to Bardai to evacuate Godbold to N'Djamena. From there he will travel to the United States via Europe for reunion with family and colleagues, debriefings and medical checks.

Godbold was captured on October 10, 2007 in Zoumri in the Tibesti region of Northern Chad. He was assisting a Chadian non-governmental organization transporting water well drilling equipment into the Tibesti in order to provide clean and safe water to residents of the region. He is 49 years old and has served in Chad since 1991. He is married and has four children.

The Movement for Democracy and Justice in T'Chad (MDJT) claimed responsibility for Godbold's captivity. Mr. Choua Dazi, the President of the MDJT, made numerous statements to the international media and others during the months of captivity, reporting that Godbold would be released as early as last November. No explanation for the failure of the MDJT to honor those promises has been provided. Godbold was ultimately released following extensive negotiations between his captors and TEAM. TEAM emphasizes that Godbold's release was unconditional and that no ransom was paid and no concessions of any type were made to secure his release.

Dr. Charles Davis, International Director of TEAM, expressed gratitude and appreciation for the efforts of many organizations and individuals in Chad and the United States: "Governments, the church, other faith-based organizations and individuals worked together to make sure that Steve was kept safe and ultimately released. We are so very grateful for this assistance and praise God for every person and agency that helped bring Steve home."

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available during the repatriation and debriefing processes.

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!

Picture and further information can be found at Reuters Africa (http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL6376781.html)

TEAM is requesting financial gifts to help pay for the contingency travel expenses to help get Steve Godbold Released.

Good News From Chad At Last!

2008-06-14T17:46:00.008+01:00

March 2008: Neil and Pam Donoghue work in eastern Chad, providing custom made wheelchairs that are able to travel through the sand. They face many challenges in doing this. Because of daylight power limitations, all cutting and fitting is done with a hacksaw and file, with grinding done at night when they have electricity.

Last month, they received a very pleasant phone call from Mr. Mark Richard, the Director of Hope Haven International Ministries in South Dakota. He said he wanted to send them a container of 150 tricycle-type wheelchairs to Chad. What a wonderful blessing this would be for the 150 recipients who would find mobility as a result!
However, they are in Chad and often what appears on the surface to be so easy, oftentimes becomes very complex. There are still some logistical challenges, but they are convinced that if God wants those chairs to arrive, doors will open.
The Donoghues are currently working with the U.N. and an American aid organization and things are looking good. They have been impressed by their optimism and willingness to help.

They are asking us to pray for them:

"There were 6 hurdles for the gift of the 150 wheelchairs to be a reality, and there's only one more left...but it looks impossible, so, since we serve the God of impossibilities, would you pray with us, that if this is His will, it WILL happen!! The chairs will take about 20 minutes each to assemble and will work well in the rough conditions here in Chad. WHAT a huge blessing it would be for the 150! Guess what else they want to include in the container:

150........... Pairs of Crutches
30........... Walkers
40........... Seat Cushions
50........... Canes

So, pray hard with us, ok??"

Chadian rebels launch town attack

2008-06-14T17:35:00.006+01:00

Chadian rebels launch town attack

Chadian rebels have threatened to advance on the country's capital

Anti-government rebels in Chad have launched an attack on the town of Goz Beida, near the border with Sudan.

The United Nations reported fighting in the town, which is home to 15,000 Darfur refugees.

A rebel leader said Goz Beida had fallen to his forces and they would take the capital N'Djamena by Sunday.

Chadian Communication Minister Mahamat Hissene told the BBC that government forces were being organised to defend the capital.

The rebels reportedly launched an offensive in the east of the country on Wednesday, and Mr Hissene said the rebels were being armed and organised by Sudan.

They claim to have twice as many vehicles and men as when they attacked N'Djamena in February.

The insurgents had sought to overthrow President Idriss Deby and they managed to reach his palace before being repelled.

*** Please pray for God:

- to have mercy on the people of Chad
- to protect the innocent as this latest attack unfolds
- to bring lasting peace to Chad in which the country can move forward and develop in every way, as He chooses

Full Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7454749.stm

Update on Steve; still held hostage

2008-05-09T15:28:00.005+01:00

Mr. Godbold is a missionary with TEAM and has lived and worked in Chad for a number of years. On October 10, 2007 he was on a humanitarian mission, delivering equipment for water wells in the Tibesti when he was detained by MDJT forces in Zoumri. Mr. Godbold has been in the custody of the MDJT ever since.

PRESS RELEASE

TEAM Sends Plane For Hostage Steve Godbold

Following MDJT Announcement

For Immediate Release

April 30, 2008

The faith-based organization TEAM, located in the United States, announces that it has arranged for an aircraft operated by a medical non-governmental organization in Chad to fly to Bardai to receive Steve Godbold, who has been detained by rebel forces since October 10, 2007. TEAM also offers to allow a representative of the international media to accompany this flight to observe the process.

On April 28, 2008 the President of the MDJT, Mr. Choua Dazi, stated in an interview published by Liberté sans frontières and posted at www.dabio.net that Mr. Godbold is “free” and that the MDJT is seeking a means to facilitate his departure from the Tibesti region of Chad.

Mr. Godbold is a missionary with TEAM and has lived and worked in Chad for a number of years. On October 10, 2007 he was on a humanitarian mission, delivering equipment for water wells in the Tibesti when he was detained by MDJT forces in Zoumri. Mr. Godbold has been in the custody of the MDJT ever since.

During this period, spokesmen for the MDJT have promised several times to release Mr. Godbold:

On October 18, 2007 Mr. Dazi told a reporter from RFI “This is the beginning of our investigation. I think that in a week’s time it will be decided. If he is innocent, then he will be freed, no problem.”
On October 24, 2007 Mr. Dazi told a reporter from Reuters “In two or three days we will conclude (our investigation) and then we’ll see what preparations we can make to free him”.
On November 5, 2007 Mr. Hissein Yaya Barka, Assistant General Secretary of the MDJT, told a French website “After a two-week investigation we have made the decision to liberate (Mr. Godbold) in the coming days.”
On January 8, 2008 Mr. Barka issued a press release that said “On November 5^th, 2007, we made the decision to release him (Godbold)”.
During this time, leaders of the MDJT also made private promises to a large humanitarian organization to release Mr. Godbold.

TEAM issued this statement today: “Although we do not understand why the MDJT did not follow through on its earlier public promises to release Steve, we appreciate and respect Mr. Dazi’s announcement yesterday that Steve is ‘free’. We have arranged for an airplane from a medical NGO based at a hospital in Chad to fly to Bardai as quickly as possible so that the MDJT can complete its commitment and return Steve to freedom. The airplane will go to Bardai on Friday, May 2. We call on Mr. Dazi and the rest of the leadership of the MDJT to honor their promise and their commitment and send Steve to Bardai to meet this plane.” TEAM also confirmed that it is seeking a member of the international media to accompany the flight as a guarantee of transparency and good faith in the process.

For further information, contact: cmt.presse@googlemail.com

Update: The plane went up to Bardai, and waited for the promised release of Steve. Unfortunately, Steve was not released, and the plane had to return without him. So the captivity of Steve continues...
Each day, our prayer for Steve has been, "Father, if today he is in the hands of the MDJT, may He be a blessing to those around him, for this is what he lives for. And if it is Your will, may Steve be released very soon and reunited with his family. Amen."

Killings of Humanitarian Workers in Chad and Darfur Cause Concern

2008-05-09T03:18:00.002+01:00

UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network by Caroline Patton / - 01 May 2008 -- Over the last several months, several aid workers have died as a result of the unrest taking place in the two countries and the UN is worried about the safety of its personnel in the area. Because of the conflicts that have roiled both Chad and Sudan , the need for humanitarian assistance is particularly acute so disruption of operations could have terrible consequences.

Yesterday, Pascal Marlinge, the Country Director of Save the Children-UK, was killed in Chad en route to Adre in eastern Chad . The group of three aid vehicles was attacked by a pair of men carrying guns and wearing uniforms. Mr. Marlinge was from France and the UN has offered its sympathy to his family in the face of their loss.

This is not the first time such a killing has occurred. Towards the end of 2007, a driver for UNHCR in Chad died after being shot in an attack.

The UN has spoken out forcefully against the attack that led to the death of Mr. Marlinge and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes told the international community that “the targeting of humanitarian workers who are in Chad to help those suffering from civil strife is an inexcusable crime.”

Mr. Holmes added that “the UN welcomes assurances by the Government of Chad that this crime will be investigated.”

Mr. Merlinge’s death comes just over a week after a humanitarian worker died in Sudan . A 58- year old driver, on his first run, was killed while distributing much needed food and supplies in Darfur . The worker, Mohammed Makki El Rasheed, left behind six children. This makes two such deaths there in as many months.

Another driver died in late March and 60 WFP vehicles have been attacked in 2008, with the fate 39 of them, and 26 of the drivers, unknown.

These deaths threaten operations in the region since aid workers face the risk of being hurt or killed in ambushes like the one that killed Mr. Merlinge. Mr. Holmes said of today’s attack that “this despicable act is likely to exacerbate already challenging conditions in which humanitarian workers continue to provide much-needed relief to those in need.”

The WFP has already expressed concern to the Government of Sudan about the need to be able to protect its personnel and that of partner organizations. Already operations are hampered by strikes on UN trucks that make it difficult to move food and other necessities. As a result of last week’s killing in Darfur , food rations were reduced due to low supplies. The stockpiles of humanitarian agencies are well below where they should be.

In order to keep going its work providing for millions of people in Darfur , “WFP is calling on all rebel groups and their commanders on the ground to ensure safety along the roads where they operate, so that humanitarian food relief can arrive to those who need it.” It has also appealed to the Government for police to be assigned to go along with humanitarian supply transports to help prevent attacks.

--Caroline Patton

Click here to go to the original article

Please pray for Chad and Sudan. More and more it becomes apparent that the only solution to the troubles is a divine intervention from God (also known as a miracle). And we believe in miracles, right?

3000 homeless after fire breaks out in Chad refugee camp

2008-04-13T03:10:00.000+01:00

From Wikinews, the free news source you can write!

A fire broke out in a refugee camp in eastern Chad Friday, April 11, leaving 3,000 people homeless and injuring 10, according to the United Nations (UN) refugee agency United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Refugees have been living in the camp as a result of the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan.

The fire started in the Goz Amer camp triggered by a cooking fire that had gone unwatched. The fire moved quickly through the camp due to high winds. Many of the refugees lost all of their belongings and food rations in the blaze. After receiving tents from the UNHCR in 2004, many of the refugees built traditional dwellings out of sticks and mud, and these shelters burned rapidly in the fire.

In a UNHCR press release, Emmanuel Uwurukundo, acting UNHCR head in Koukou-Angarana said: "Everybody around, refugees and all our partners alike, rushed to the spot and tried to extinguish the fire with whatever they had: clothes, extinguishers and water. The teamwork was outstanding."

In Geneva the UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres commented on the situation: "The refugees have already suffered so much tragedy and now face yet another trauma. I am deeply relieved that there was no loss of life in this devastating fire. We will do everything we can to help and to get shelter and food supplies to them as quickly as possible."

Families affected by the fire were housed at three area schools, and the UNHCR announced on Friday that it planned to deliver aid supplies including sleeping mats, blankets and kitchen sets. The World Food Programme was also asked by the UNHCR for an extra monthly food ration to be delivered to the families whose homes were destroyed in the blaze.

The Goz Amer camp houses about 20,500 refugees, and is located approximately 70 kilometers from the Sudanese border. Goz Amer is one of 12 UNHCR-run camps along the Chad-Sudan which all told contain over 240,000 refugees from Darfur.

Chad and Sudan signed a peace agreement on March 13 in an attempt to end a five-year conflict, and the leaders of both countries agreed not to back rebel groups that are active near their borders.

Approximately 2.2 million people from the Darfur region have left their homes since the beginning of the violence in 2003. The UN puts the number of deaths due to the Darfur conflict at over 200,000, and the Sudanese government has said that only 9,000 have died.

Please pray for God to intervene with His hand of encouragement and blessing on behalf of the refugees in Goz Amer, and all the other camps in eastern Chad and western Sudan.

Chad: High Civilian Casualties in Rebel-Govt Crossfire

2008-04-11T18:56:00.004+01:00

Posted to the web 3 April 2008

Ndjamena (IRIN): Fighting in recent years in eastern Chad between the government and rebels has usually taken place away from civilian populations, but in the latest battle on 1 April more than 50 civilians were killed and injured.

"One was a little girl who picked up an unexploded ordinance which then exploded in her face," Jan Peter Stellema, head of mission in Chad for the non-governmental organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), told IRIN.

The fighting, which took place in Adé near the border with Sudan, left seven civilians dead and 47 wounded, he said.

Medical workers from MSF and the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) treated the injured civilians on the spot in Adé expect for the nine most serious cases which were transferred to facilities at the regional capital Goz Beida.

Stellema said MSF is "pleased that access had been granted to treat the civilians", but he also expressed concern that Adé's 1,000 inhabitants and the 10,000 displaced Chadians living alongside them remain vulnerable to attack and that they have been neglected by international aid agencies.

"Adé has one of the most underserved populations in eastern Chad. The UN has not gone there because of security concerns nor are other humanitarian groups present."

Only MSF and the ICRC have projects in the area, Stellema said. "MSF is providing health care but people there need is so much more."

Representatives at ICRC expressed concern that an escalation of the fighting would further hamper the delivery of humanitarian assistance adding that the high number of civilian causalities at Adé was a worrying development.

"The type and setting of past armed confrontations in eastern Chad has led to a very limited number of civilian causalities," ICRC deputy head in Chad Nicholai Panke told IRIN by email. "ICRC calls on all parties to [continue to] spare civilians from hostilities."

Hundreds of civilians were killed in Chad's capital N'djamena in early February when rebels temporarily entered the city. Some of the civilian causalities occurred when government forces attacked rebels with helicopter gun ships, observers told IRIN.

In the meantime border tensions are mounting with Sudan reportedly accusing Chad of sending a helicopter into Darfur which bombed the town of Um Kenjub, and firing a missile on the Sudanese military in the area. Chad's government denied the report.

Following the 1 April attack in Adé, 47 injured soldiers were flown by the French army, which is based in Chad, for treatment in hospitals in the eastern town of Abeche and N'djamena, a diplomat who asked to remain anonymous told IRIN.

IRIN contacted a French commander in Chad but he would not comment.

State radio said on 3 April that the army recuperated 45 heavily armed pickups that the rebels had abandoned. There is no information on numbers of rebels injured but ICRC confirmed the Chadian army had taken prisoners.

"ICRC will visit them over the next days to monitor their conditions of detention, as we usually do with all captured opposition fighters in Chad," Panke said.

Original article was posted on AllAfrica.com

CHAD: Foreboding with first rebel attack since February

2008-04-01T23:36:00.003+01:00

01 Apr 2008 20:11:31 GMT

Source: IRIN

NDJAMENA, 1 April 2008 (IRIN) - An attack on government troops early on 1 April at the town of Ade in eastern Chad on the border with Sudan is the first serious attempt by the rebels to challenge government forces since February when the rebels got as far as the capital N'djamena before withdrawing.

"The attack today [1 April] could just be a single event but we fear that it is the beginning of a much larger offensive," according to a diplomat in N'djamena who wished to remain anonymous.

Dozens of government troops and many civilians were injured in the fighting which ended around midday, according to a source in Ade. Information on the number of rebel causalities was unavailable, nor was it clear whether the rebels had retreated into Sudan or moved southeast in the direction of the Chadian village of Modoyna which is near the border.

Sources in Ade confirmed that the attackers were part of the rebel National Alliance (NA), which consists of at least three rebel groups headed by Mahamat Nouri a former Chadian general who led the attack on Ndjamena in February. "What the rebels do next is anyone's guess," said the diplomat. "Maybe they just wanted to rattle their sabers and that will be it or maybe this attack was a decoy for larger rebel attacks that could soon take place elsewhere along the border and we are about to witness something big."

"The important thing is that everyone is preparing for any eventuality," he added, referring to the evacuation from N'djamena of diplomats, international aid workers and tens of thousands of civilians during the February rebel offensive.

The Chadian ministry of defense issued a statement saying that Sudan is behind the latest attack and calling the rebels "mercenaries" of Sudan's government. It said that Sudan had violated various accords with Chad notably the one signed on 13 Match in Dakar, in front of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other world leaders. A Sudanese military spokesman told Reuters in Khartoum: "Sudan's armed forces had no hand in what is happening in Chad - this is an internal matter."

Adé sees heavy fighting

2008-04-01T23:07:00.004+01:00

April 1, 2008 (AFP): Fighting erupted Tuesday morning in the far eastern part of Chad between rebels and the army, two months after the attack that nearly overthrew President Idriss Deby of Chad Itno in N'Djamena, according to a leader of the rebellion.

"There is fighting to Adé (a border town of Sudan), and they are still going," said Gadaye Ali, the spokesman of the National Alliance (AN), which includes most of the armed groups hostile to President Deby.

"Government forces arrived, they attacked us, we in turn attacked them and we are now occupying Adé," said another rebel official who requested anonymity, on joint satellite telephone from Libreville.

No Chadian army spokespersons were able to be reached at this time.

On February 2 and 3, after crossing the country from their rear bases in Sudan in less than a week, the Chadian rebels had attacked N'Djamena, causing Deby the president to hide out in his palace.

The latter later repulsed the rebels, with the assistance of military support from France.

Darfur: New Attacks in Chad Documented (Human Rights Watch)

Lots going on

2008-03-17T00:14:00.002+01:00

March 16, 2008: Here are some of the latest prayer requests for Chad:
- 82 of the children staying at Bakan Assalam in Abeche, Chad, have been returned to their home village, to their parents. Please pray for their re-adjustment to the village, and that this experience would bring blessing to their future lives.
- The state of emergency over the whole country has been lifted, and a peace agreement has been signed by Omar Al Bechir, President of Sudan, and Idriss Deby, President of Chad. And yet, troubles still abound. The rebels threaten to attack the oil-rich south, and there are rumors of 200 rebel vehicles crossing the border into Chad last week. Pray for lasting peace, through the Prince of Peace, the only hope of Chad.
- Math teacher and political leader Ibni Omar Mahamat Saleh is still missing. Please pray for the truth to be known about his disappearance, and for his family who has been left behind.
- In N'Djaména, several thousand people have been made homeless as the government tears down hundreds of homes in the Goudji and Farcha neighborhoods. The people of these neighborhoods are majority Gorane, the ethnic group of the leaders of the rebellion forces. Please pray for these families in their suffering, for solutions to their current challenges.

Yorongar is free, Ibni Mahamet Saleh is not

2008-03-10T02:33:00.006+01:00

March 9, 2008: After being released and received into exile in France, Ngarlejy Yorongar is interviewed about his experience in solitary confinement. However, he says that he personally witnessed the death of Ibni Mahamet Saleh, due to repeated beatings.
We thank God for his safe release, especially since many people believed that he was dead. Thank you for praying! Please pray for God to comfort the family of Ibni Mahamet Saleh as they absorb the sad news of their brave father, uncle and husband.

Here is the original interview with Yorongar

Not all sweetness and light

2008-03-01T17:05:00.003+01:00

March 1, 2008: According to several tchadactuel.com reporters, the reality of the situation in N'Djaména and the country is the worst it has ever been in living memory. We hear that Sudanese mercenaries, unwelcome in their home country because of their stand against the Sudanese government, fought to assist the Chadian government to stay in power. Ever since they succeeded in pushing the rebels against the Chadian government away, they have been pillaging the homes of innocent civilians. They have also been raping women and girls in their homes with impunity.
The government has also expressed its intention to evict everyone from the Diguel and Gardolé quarters (neighborhoods) in N'Djaména, for their presumed support of the Sudanese government.
These post-battle disasters are leaving ordinary Chadians everywhere in an uproar. Please pray that the pillaging and raping of the innocent would stop, and that peace can be found between the people and their government once again.

For more information:
N'Djaména, ville prison ou ville ou pillulent des prédateurs?
Peuple tchadien, ta lutte est juste

More Than Trees are Falling

2008-02-29T23:25:00.003+01:00

February 29, 2008: The BBC wrote an interesting article about the trees that are being felled on Charles De Gaulle Street in N'Djamena, one of the most important streets in the capital city. I have a nostalgic feeling about these trees that we so often did not notice when we would be downtown buying supplies or enjoying breakfast at a café, but whose absence would have spoken loudly. They brought shade and life to an otherwise hot and dry place. But because the rebels were able to hide behind them in the fighting, and may do so again, the Chadian government decided that they needed to be cut down.
In an arid country like Chad, one does not just decide to cut trees down without a reason. They will take decades to grow back, IF all goes well. So, despite their verbal assurances of having dealt a decisive blow to the rebels, the Chadian government has shown by their actions that they expect the rebels to be back soon, because actions show better what's inside than words.
Because of ambition and power, this conflict is cutting down more than innocent trees. Please pray for the innocent and suffering whose only home is the capital city, and for a lasting peace to come to Chad as soon as possible.

Click here to read the original BBC article

A bit of good news

2008-02-26T23:51:00.005+01:00

February 26, 2008: According to tchadactuel.com, opposition politician Lol Mahamat Choua was returned to his family home in N'Djamena this evening by government soldiers. In a press release, Government officials indicated that this was a goodwill move leading up to the visit to Chad of French President Nicholas Sarkozi tomorrow.
Lol Mahamat Choua is the president of the RDP party, who disappeared at the same time as Yorongar Ngarlédji and M. Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh on February 3rd.
As he arrived home, Lol Mahamat Choua was very tired. He is currently under house arrest, and all non-family members were asked to vacate his home. Government officials say the house arrest will continue until the courts can conclude their investigation regarding his relationship with the rebellion forces, a claim his entourage immediately denies.
We thank God for his safe return to his family. Let us pray together that his freedom would be fully restored to him soon.

Click here to see the original AFP article

Pray for eastern Chad refugee camps

2008-02-20T01:05:00.005+01:00

February 19, 2008: Helicopter gunships are bombing the Jebel Moun mountains of Sudan, not far from the Chadian border. Sudan's army spokesman said the army had begun a "cleansing" operation of the whole area. As a result, twenty thousand civilians directly caught in the cross-fire are fleeing into Chad in the past few weeks, and 160,000 others are in imminent danger. And with the diminished UN personnel on-site, for most there is nowhere to call for these people, but to God.

As the UNHCR tried to move about 8,000 newly arrived refugees away from the border, they were stopped by an unknown armed group. Thus, these newly arrived refugees remain in danger.

Please pray that God would intervene on behalf of these who need Him so desperately in this troubled time.

Original Articles:
http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnBAN956093.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7252300.stm

http://www.irinnews.org/fr/ReportFrench.aspx?ReportId=76816

Fiji nationals stuck in Chad contact family

2008-02-12T21:01:00.001+01:00

Friday, February 08, 2008

The Fijian missionary family serving in Chad has contacted relatives here to assure them they're safe and well.

Eliki Drodrolagi, his wife - Lavenia - and their two children are serving with the Christian evangelist Organisation called WEC International in Central North Africa.

Following the attempted coup by rebels in the capital last week, relatives of the Drodrolagi family here have been trying to contact them.

BBC News quoted aid agencies as saying at least 100 civilians were killed and up to 700 were wounded in the capital, N'Djamena, during the attempted coup.

In an email, Drodrolagi said the rebels passed through their town of Abeche on their way to the capital last week before the unrest.

Drodrolagi, who was in the South, managed to fly to Abeche to his family.

He said they've been warned by the French military to stay home for the time being.

However, Drodrolagi said another of their team members the Fung family from Fiji - were among foreigners evacuated from the capital on the day and are now in the UK.

They are expected to return to Chad when the situation normalises.

Even though evacuation has been offered to foreigners in Abeche, the family says it's turned quiet in Abeche and N'Djamena at the present time.

But they've asked for prayers in support of their mission in Chad from families and friends in Fiji.

Full article: http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=8310

Prayer Request from IFES

2008-02-08T00:24:00.000+01:00

Please pray with us for Chad. Rebels are fighting against the army. Thousands of people are fleeing N'djamena, the capital city, and several Western countries are repatriating their nationals. The people of Chad are going through a great deal of suffering.

Augustin Ahoga, IFES Regional Secretary for Francophone Africa, urges us to pray: 'The people of Chad have no escape, whereas the expatriates can flee. Pray for the Lord to overrule in this situation!'

Pray too for Barka Kamnadj, General Secretary of UJC (the IFES student movement in Chad). We haven't been able to contact him. Please pray for grace, strength and peace as he goes through such a trial himself and tries to bring pastoral support to the movement and those around him. Pray that they will know God's presence and be able to see that 'The LORD is [their] rock, [their] fortress and [their] deliverer.' (Psalm 18:2)

In this time of suffering, we remember God's faithfulness to Chad in the past and thank him for the wonderful ways he has used the IFES movement there to pioneer student ministry in eight other countries across Francophone Africa.

Published: Tuesday 05 February 2008

Original location:
http://www.ifesworld.org/news/item.php?itemID=896

February 7: Summary Executions in an Environment of Anarchy

2008-02-07T22:46:00.001+01:00

Although the rebel forces failed in their attempt to take over the capital and thus establish their rule over the country, their efforts were not without effect. As a result of the fighting in the capital city, the forces of law and order have broken down in the Chadian capital.
Things were bad in the past, and were gradually getting worse, but now there is no one...
- to arrest a murderer and give him due process under the law,
- to prevent soldiers from taking a vehicles and possessions away from innocent civilians,
- to issue visas or driver's licenses,
- or to give permission for acts of service to be accomplished in this needy nation.

The Celtel tower in N'Djamena was burned down, and the roads to N'Djamena from the east, south or north are closed for fear of highway robbery. This is an article by Amnesty international about civilians being summarily executed in N'Djamena by unknown forces in military uniforms. We do not know whose army these people represent, or even if they represent an army. Please pray for those who have stayed behind in Chad to do the "Lord's work," be they missionaries, pastors, development workers or civilians looking to fill a need with their business.

Amnesty International, February 7 2008:
"Amnesty International is alarmed at reports of extra judicial killings of civilians by armed men in Chad. The organization has called on the Chadian government to take urgent action to prevent extra judicial executions in the aftermath of clashes between rebel and government forces.

"We have received information that on 6 February at least three men were allegedly executed by members of the Chadian army. The dead bodies of these men were dumped in the river Chari. This morning, their bodies were reportedly picked up by agents of the Chadian administration" said Tawanda Hondora, Deputy Programme Director for Africa at Amnesty International. The identity of the three men is not known but it is thought they belong to the same ethnic community as the armed opposition groups which carried out attacks on the capital, N'Djamena, over the weekend.
"We are extremely concerned that the Chadian authorities are about to start a major witch-hunt against people perceived as belonging to the armed
opposition groups," said Tawanda Hondora."

Full article:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/chad-authorities-must-act-prevent-extrajudicial-executions-20080207

February 6: Prominent Chad opposition members arrested

2008-02-07T21:44:00.000+01:00

Here is an article from Amnesty International about opposition politicians who have been arrested and detained without any reason. Please pray that God would keep Lol Mahamat Choua, Ngarlejy Yorongar, Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh, and Wadel Adbelkader Kamougué; safe where they are, and that they would be released soon to their families:

"(Amnesty International): Four prominent members of the Chadian opposition have been arrested by security forces in N'Djamena. The whereabouts of Lol Mahamat Choua, Ngarlejy Yorongar, Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh, and Wadel Adbelkader Kamougué remain unknown since their arrest on Sunday. Amnesty International has received information suggesting they may be detained at the city's presidential palace. No legal justification has been given by the authorities for their arrest. A spokesperson at the Presidency told Amnesty International on Tuesday that "they can not confirm whether these four people have been arrested."A spokesperson for Amnesty International said that the men are at grave risk of being tortured or forcibly disappeared."

The full article is found here:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/prominent-chad-opposition-members-arrested-20080207

Chadian Refugee Testimony

2008-02-06T02:09:00.001+01:00

As you pray for Chad today, listen to the testimony of one of the approximately 20,000 refugees who have crossed the border out of N'Djamena, as heard by a BBC reporter:

"On Sunday, I saw men who were heavily armed coming towards the house. I think they were rebels.
I heard the sound of gun shots which was terrifying.
I ran to the window at the back of the building and managed to escape through it. I left my father and mother in the house. I ran and did not turn back.
I saw some other people I knew and managed to get a lift with them in one of their cars.
We saw a lot of fighting. Rebels were killing and shooting people. It was really dangerous.
I don't know what to do.
I telephoned my friend in N'Djamena and he told me that my mother, my father and my fiancee had all been shot.
I don't know whether to cry or kill myself."

Please pray for this man, and for the many others like him...

For the full report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7228376.stm

Feb 4, 2008: StopGenocideNow.org Members Safely out

2008-02-05T05:05:00.001+01:00

We thank God for the news that Gabriel, Katie-Jay, Joshua and Jeremiah of StopGenocideNow.org have made it out of Chad safely. Throughout the crisis, they posted their firsthand blogs, pictures and video about the situation on the ground:

www.stopgenocidenow.org/iact/iact4/reports

We have also heard that all of the Christian workers we know of in the capital city were also evacuated. Those in Abéché, Mongo, Bitkine, and Moundou have remained, and are safe. As this situation unfolds, Steve Godbold, who had been taken hostage in the mountains of Bardai, is still in the hands of the MDJT. Let us pray for these folks to be safe and effective in sharing God's Love in this time of turmoil.
At the same time, Gabriel and Katie-Jay personally testified in the video of their flight out of their concern for the Chadians and others they are leaving behind. Thousands of people crossed the bridges into Cameroon with the lull in fighting today. As they left, we hear that gunfire was being heard in various parts of N'Djamena. Let us pray for these Chadian refugees in Kousseri, Cameroon, that God would provide their daily food, water and shelter in this time where their world has been turned upside down. And we equally pray for the civilians of all faiths and ethnic groups who have been obliged to stay in N'Djamena to be safe and find protection in the only unfailing Refuge for our souls.

Pray for Chad

2008-02-04T18:38:00.000+01:00

Chad has been in the news a lot lately, as rebels and government-backed soldiers "duke it out" to find out who will be in charge. The situation is changing so rapidly that a prayer letter will not suffice. What is needed is a place where you can go and find out what is going on, and how we got to this point.
No one can watch this situation unfold without having an opinion about who is right and who is wrong in this struggle for power. However, our goal in creating this blog is to help you pray informatively for our friends who are affected by this crisis, no matter what their political persuasion, ethnic group or religion. We will refer you to interesting websites about the country as we discover them, and pass on the news you need to know to plead with God with us for our "heart country".

Chad Prayer News

Cholera outbreak in eastern Chad almost over

Despite crisis in Somalia, Chad is still the worst place to treat a sick child

Djermaya refinery delivers energy crunch

President's project to build one hundred housing complexes in the N'Djaména area has taken off

Inauguration Day

Sudan, Chad to sign US$2b pact to build railway (PANA)

Attacks on Birao, CAR

Share this page

Central African Republic rebels seize Birao town

UN: 24 dead, 70,000 homeless in Chad flooding

Squatter dies defending his claim

Morning Explosions in N'Djaména

Oxfam Worker Freed

Oxfam aid worker abducted last Sunday in Abéché

Oxfam aid worker abducted last Sunday in Abéché

Black bags declared illegal in Chad

CHAD: Re-assessing the aid footprint

Struggles

Claire and Stephanie have been released!

Chadian army, rebels clash in east: government

Chadian Rebels Advance on the Capital

Please pray for Claire and Stephanie, held hostage in Sudan

Threat to kill two Sudan hostages

A university rector savagely beaten by the police in Chad

Chad charcoal ban enflames public

Life in N'Djaména just got harder

When will the "Big Attack" come?

Trouble is Brewing

Steve Godbold is Released!

Good News From Chad At Last!

Chadian rebels launch town attack

Update on Steve; still held hostage

Killings of Humanitarian Workers in Chad and Darfur Cause Concern

3000 homeless after fire breaks out in Chad refugee camp

From Wikinews, the free news source you can write!

Chad: High Civilian Casualties in Rebel-Govt Crossfire

CHAD: Foreboding with first rebel attack since February

Adé sees heavy fighting

Darfur: New Attacks in Chad Documented (Human Rights Watch)

Lots going on

Yorongar is free, Ibni Mahamet Saleh is not

Not all sweetness and light

More Than Trees are Falling

A bit of good news

Pray for eastern Chad refugee camps

Fiji nationals stuck in Chad contact family

Prayer Request from IFES

February 7: Summary Executions in an Environment of Anarchy

February 6: Prominent Chad opposition members arrested

Chadian Refugee Testimony

Feb 4, 2008: StopGenocideNow.org Members Safely out

Pray for Chad