IHH has carried out emergency relief efforts for Nigerian refugees who have escaped from the Boko Haram attacks and taken refuge in Chad. IHH teams have distributed 21 tons of food supplies consisting of rice, flour and oil to the refugees who have settled in the Dar es Salaam refugee camp established between the Nigeria-Chad border. IHH teams have also distributed the meat of 19 cattle’s.
Due to the attacks of the Boko Haram group who are active in the North of Nigeria many people have been forced to leave their homes and settle elsewhere. Following the attacks of Boko Haram, it is estimated that the number of refugees has exceeded one million in the more secure areas of the country and in neighbouring countries such as Chad, Cameroon and Niger.
Civillians are left petrified after Boko Harams terrifying attacks. Muslims living in the North of Nigeria in particular are continuing to leave their homes and are seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
No matter where in the world there is persecution and massacres IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation does not turn a blind eye. IHH has started emergency relief efforts for refugees who have been taking refuge in neighbouring countries due to Boko Haram attacks. IHH teams have started charity work at the Chad-Nigeria border in the Dar es Salaam refugee camp located in Baga Sola near the Chad lake.The first stage of supplies to the 7,000 people staying at the camp was 21 tons of emergency food supplies consisting of rice, flour and oil and also distributed the meat of 19 cattle’s.
IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation West Africa Coordinator Yunus Satılmış stated that the number of Nigerian refugees that have taken refuge in Chad has reached 20,000 and that they are living in 3 different camps established by the Chad government and the UN. Satılmış explained that the refugee camps in Chad are in Lac Area (Bol, Bagasol)regions of desert and arid, and that the people living in the camps are facing shortage of food and clean drinking water. Yunus Satılmış stated that last year in Lac there was no rain during the rainy season which this contributed to the serious water shortage the region is experiencing and continued his speech as follows:
‘As IHH we could not leave the Nigerian Muslims who were forced to escape the attacks of Boko Haram and live in the refugee camps. We started our aid work at the Dar es Salaam refugee camp established in Baga Sola which is located in the Lac region.People have already taken refuge here leaving behind everything, however, the conditions here are quite challenging.This area is completely composed of desert and arid lands. Firstly we have distributed the meat of 19 cattles and 21 tons of food. We will continue our assistance.’
The refugees are still living a trauma
Yunus Satılmış made clear that despite the fact that people have left their homes and have settled in safer areas they are still in fear, ‘Boko Haram has carried out serious attacks in areas they are dominant in. You can easily see the fear in the eyes of Muslims when explaining what they lived and how they were forced to leave their homes.There is still great fear within the camp.It seems that it is going to be very difficult to overcome the trauma they have lived. In fact, it’s just not within the camp, there is great anxiety in Chad in general. Generally speaking, the only agenda in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon is Boko Haram. As an aid organization we will continue our charity work and support for the refugees without any interruption. '
