Global Overview 2014: people internally displaced by conflict and violence - Chad

Armed conflict, inter-ethnic violence and attacks by criminal groups known as coupeurs de route forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in Chad between 2006 and 2008. As of December 2013, there were still up to 90,000 living in displacement. Thanks to improved security, a similar number of IDPs have either returned, integrated locally or settled elsewhere in the country since 2008. Humanitarian workers expect a significant number of the remaining IDPs to opt for integration into their host communities.

As reported by UNHCR, the government declared that internal displacement is over, and stopped recognising IDPs who had not returned home. According to the international humanitarian community, however, there are still IDPs striving to find durable solutions. Despite this observation, the UNHCR planned to stop direct assistance to them in 2014 as a result.

The challenges IDPs face in achieving durable solutions were increased by the overall humanitarian situation in 2013. Large numbers of Chadians returned from neighbouring countries and refugees from Sudan and the Central African Republic also sought refuge in Chad. Host communities, returnees, refugees and IDPs competed for limited resources, including services, land and humanitarian and development assistance.

By ratifying the Kampala Convention in 2011, Chad committed to developing a legal framework to ensure that IDPs are protected and assisted. At the end of 2013, however, it was still to do so.