Chad has begun the emergency relocation of refugees away from its eastern border with Sudan as security tensions escalate following cross-border violence
The move comes after President Mahamat Idriss Deby ordered the military to prepare for possible retaliation after a drone attack from Sudan killed 17 people, including civilians attending a funeral
Initial relocation efforts involve around 2,300 refugees, more than half of them women and children, who are being moved from border areas such as Tine in the Ennedi Est province to safer locations deeper داخل Chad
Officials say the operation will expand to other towns that have served as transit points for people fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan
Authorities have also reinforced security along the frontier and signalled the possibility of conducting operations across the border if necessary
Chad had already closed its eastern border last month after earlier clashes left five soldiers dead, but refugees continue to cross due to intense fighting on the Sudanese side
The conflict in Sudan, ongoing since April 2023 between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has repeatedly spilled over into neighbouring Chad, increasing pressure on already strained humanitarian resources
Source: TRT Afrika
