In Tine, eastern Chad, the situation remains dire following repeated attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Darfur, Sudan. The attacks have led to a significant humanitarian crisis, exacerbating the already dire conditions faced by the civilian population. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reports that civilians from the Darfur region have experienced extreme levels of violence, including ethnic targeting of non-Arab communities, bombardment, and large-scale executions.
The Medical Save Foundation (MSF) has been providing medical and humanitarian support to people fleeing violence in Tine. In the past two months, MSF’s team has supported Chad’s health authorities in treating 457 people, with six children among the wounded. The majority of injuries have been to the upper and lower limbs, with a significant proportion of open fractures. Despite the efforts to stabilize and treat the wounded, 38 people have died at the hospital, including 19 on a single day following border attacks.
MSF teams were initially supporting Mabrouka hospital in Tine, located near the border. However, on 21 February, the hospital was closed and the equipment transferred to a new health facility due to security concerns. The new hospital has faced challenges, including a shortage of medication, disrupted access to water and electricity, and a high number of patients requiring emergency care.
On 18 March, a drone attack killed 17 people attending a funeral in Tine, according to Chadian authorities. MSF teams treated 24 people, many in critical condition. The attacks in Chad place both humanitarian workers and civilians, including refugees who fled the war in Sudan, at risk. MSF has had to adapt and relocate its activities due to the ongoing insecurity, and the current situation makes it unsustainable for the organization to provide even a minimum of medical support.
In addition to providing medical care, MSF also supports refugees who fled the war in Sudan in a transit camp in Tine. Despite the security challenges, the team continues to provide outpatient consultations, nutritional screening, vaccinations, support to survivors of sexual violence, and to set up mobile medical clinics. MSF is the only organization providing water in the area after others left due to lack of resources. A measles outbreak in Tine and other districts in Chad has prompted MSF to vaccinate 710 children on 25 and 26 March.
The ICRC calls for immediate protection for civilians at the Chad — Sudan border. The continued deterioration of the situation in North Darfur, combined with global humanitarian funding cuts and extreme levels of violence and deprivation experienced by displaced families, has led to massive humanitarian needs that require critical support.
Source: reliefweb
