UN warns of worsening humanitarian situation in Lake Chad region
Xinhua, August 28, 2015 Adjust font size:
UN Under-Secretary General and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel Toby Lanzer has warned of a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Lake Chad region.
"Chad is the seventh country in the world with the highest number of refugees. The international community should urgently reinforce its humanitarian action, especially for the displaced people in the Lake region who have been affected by the crisis," Lanzer said on Thursday.
He was speaking in N'Djamena at the end of his four day visit to Chad during which he visited the Lake region to see the humanitarian impact of the crisis in the Lake Chad basin.
The security context in the Lake region, characterised by attacks by Boko Haram terrorist group, has forced over 41,000 people to flee the islands to settle in more secure zones in the interior territories in the last one month.
"The communities we met had witnessed indescribable violence. Entire families found themselves in worrying humanitarian situations. Many fled without carrying anything. They lack water and food, they are exposed to diseases and are just sleeping under trees," the UN official deplored.
He urged the international community to mobilize more resources to address the multiple humanitarian challenges facing the country. Enditem