In spite of the persisting emergency situation, the refugees have now settled down. It is thus necessary to implement programmes for a mid-term mitigation of the refugees’ dependency toward humanitarian aid and for improved living conditions. It has thus become crucial to reassess the humanitarian interventions, and focus as much as possible on the development of the refugees’ production capacities. The aim of the project implemented by ACTED is thus to associate the distribution of essential goods to activities that will allow the recovery of basic livelihoods. Therefore, the diverse activities proposed by ACTED aim to address a single objective: consolidating the refugees’ capacities to increase their self-sustained livelihoods.

Agricultural activities

ACTED established in 2004 a 14,000 square metres market gardening area as well as a nursery on the river banks, five kilometres away from the camp. Plots of land are made available to the refugees and local populations, who also benefit from seed and tool distributions as well as from practical trainings. A “hut gardening” activity was added to the support ACTED brings in favour of market gardening in 2007. Initially, this activity resembled permaculture. The refugees worked on a bag with a pierced can system for the provision of water; the aim being to limit the consumption of water. However, the cultivated land seemed too small for beneficiaries, who used to directly plant seeds in the ground. In order to maintain the advantages of this practice of “permaculture in bags” and to respond to the needs, ACTED experimented “jardinières” made with metallic barrels cut in two lengthwise. This technique has met the beneficiaries’ approval. The beneficiary households receive seeds and advice to develop market gardening produce such as gumbo, beetroot, onions, carrots, aubergines and parsley. Market and hut gardening have met a true success among the refugee population, allowing the beneficiaries to diversify their nutrition, irrespective of the distributed rations. In addition, the sale of gardening produce has provided them with a source of income which enables to pay for essential goods.

Preventing reliance to distributions

An impact enquiry conducted in February 2009 estimated that 95% of the beneficiaries only consume part of their production and sell the rest on the camp market. Only 4% of the beneficiaries declared consuming their entire production. Finally, each beneficiary earns a weekly average income of 3,066 FCFA (approximately 5 Euros), which allows for the purchase of soap, sugar, meat and other products that are not included in the general food distributions (GFD).

Besides, the beneficiaries also gain some expertise, which can eventually spread to others. This learning aspect is of great importance. These activities prevent the populations from relying solely on humanitarian assistance. An everlasting assistance can indeed be detrimental to the locals’ know-how and self-sufficiency, be it in a refugee camp in Chad or in the prospect of a return to Sudan.

Supporting professional opportunities

Two years ago, ACTED also created or consolidated a number of professions which are today well spread around the camp (masons, bakers, hen breeders, laundry workers, blacksmiths, small shopkeepers, perfumers, etc.), in the framework of the promotion of Income Generating Activities (IGA). ACTED supports 30 groups, comprising 331 members, by distributing professional kits and training management tools. Unfortunately, the development of these activities is limited as the camp offers little business opportunities and interaction with other areas remains rare. There is no local economy in which the groups can sell their produce. One of the forthcoming steps for ACTED will be a global assessment of the market flows in the camp and the implementation of new sale strategies.

Although it is frequently neglected by humanitarian aid, the breeding of small ruminants (goats, sheep) is a key element of food security. It is indeed one of the most practiced activities by the refugees of Darfur. ACTED helps the 7,000 estimated breeders in Oure Cassoni, through vaccination campaigns, the training of auxiliary veterinaries, who henceforth have the sufficient capacities to autonomously renew their own medicine stocks, as well as through the daily follow up of livestock in the camp.

Since 2004, almost 28,000 of the refugees who have fled the conflict in Darfur have lived in the camp of Oure Cassoni, the Sudanese refugee camp located the farthest north of Eastern Chad. ACTED has been assisting the refugees in the camp since then. Five years later, the emergency situation continues. Although self-sufficiency remains elusive, ACTED has been, in partnership with both the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department and the UNHCR, committed to enhance the future prospects of the most deprived.

Read more about ACTED intervention in Ouré Cassoni:

The environmental question, a key element to the sustainability of the camp