SOUTHERN CHAD RELATIVELY STABLE DESPITE INFLUX OF REFUGEES, SAYS UN

SOUTHERN CHAD RELATIVELY STABLE DESPITE INFLUX OF REFUGEES, SAYS UN New York, May 8 2008 6:00PM A good level of security prevails in southern Chad, despite concerns over road banditry and an influx of refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR), says the United Nations peacekeeping operation in the two countries.

The refugees are arriving from the border town of Gore, where local officials met a delegation from the UN mission, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minurcat/">MINURCAT, on Monday.

The Prefect of Gore told the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Victor Angelo, that there were "no insecurity problems here the way you will see it in eastern Chad," but also asked for assistance to cope with the flow of refugees into the area, according to a news release issued by the mission.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that the total number of refugees in Chad is some 296,000, of whom 53,000 are Central Africans while the rest are Sudanese.

Mr. Angelo expressed satisfaction for the work of the humanitarian community as well as the local authorities, and said he was delighted that the security situation in the region is under control. "I commend you for the good work that you are doing, and I assure you of all my support in order to reinforce your capacities in the security sector," he told local officials.
2008-05-08 00:00:00.000

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