[Channel 4 News] Thousands more flee Chad 2008.02.05

By Jonathan Miller:

"Thousands of refugees have been escaping Chad for Cameroon, placing heavy strain on the Cameroon town of Kousseri near the border, the UN has said.

It said up to 20,000 people had crossed the river border since Saturday, when rebels stormed the capital N'Djamena.

The UN's refugee agency said aid supplies and better accommodation were urgently needed for the refugees.

The rebels have now retreated from N'Djamena, and France has threatened to step in if they launch another assault.

Former colonial power France has 1,400 troops in Chad and has helped to evacuate foreigners from the city.

Today "frightened people were still crossing in a continuous flow" from Chad into neighbouring Cameroon, said the UN's refugee agency in a news release.

While some have found refuge with relatives, in schools or hotels, it said between 6,000 and 7,000 were staying out in the open at a transit centre near the bridge.

France said it would be prepared to intervene in the conflict, after a UN Security Council statement "strongly condemned" the rebel offensive

However, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he "hoped" the French troops in the city would not have to intervene.

President Nicolas Sarkozy said France would "do its duty" if necessary."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Channel4
• News
• Anglais
• Chad
• Tchad
• N'Djamena
• attack
• rebels
• Darfur
• Sudan
• refugees
• Cameroon
• Sarkozy
• Deby
• EU
• peackeepers

[farcha3]

vive larmée francaise?!

ca te va pa?

les francai son dé egoiste!

il sen foute du sor d lafrik

je lenmerd!

[tecktomix68]

vive l'arme francaisse xp

[Max8Jizzy]

Thank you Sarko. Hope the dipomats and peacekeeping troops will end it.

[cristi207]

stupid men

[Tiktiesa]

I hope/pray for ending of this madness.