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Since 2003 around 240,000 refugees have arrived in Chad from Darfur. More are arriving every day as insecurity in the region deepens. Unfortunately, intercommunity conflict and cross-border attacks in Chad itself have also caused 180,000 Chadians to become displaced.

Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world. Around 80 per cent of the population lives in extreme poverty on less than $1 a day and more than half of the population is illiterate.

In addition to the internal conflicts, the country also suffers from many natural disasters such as drought and severe flooding, hampering the ability to grow food and forcing many people from their homes.

Islamic Relief began work in the east of Chad in the Am Dam region. Despite the large numbers of internally displaced people and 'returnees' here, there were previously no other aid agencies working in the area. Returnees left the area during previous conflicts or droughts, but have returned to the region because of attacks on the towns and villages where they had settled.

Am Dam is a particularly remote area that is difficult to access, especially during the rainy season when the movement of goods is almost impossible. So far, Islamic Relief distributed food and non-food items to over 14,500 people in 13 locations in Am Dam and Haouich.

Fleeing from attack

One of those who benefited from this distribution was 38-year-old Maryam Issa, who is living with her seven children in the village of Idal Assal, Haouich. She fled from her village with her children when her home was attacked and burned to the ground by rebels. She was lucky to survive and still has burn marks on her arms from the attack.

Maryam left her home with no belongings and is struggling to care for her children. The family has no permanent place to live and have to seek shelter from the sun and rain in the huts of local families.

Every day Maryam wakes up early to bring water from the wadi (seasonal river) which is 700 meters from the village. She then makes the journey to the farm where she works all day cutting weeds and grass. This is tough manual work, but is the only work available to displaced people for which she is only paid $1 a day. 

Finding enough food to feed her family is a daily struggle. Like most of the population she relies on the edible parts of a local grass which grows in abundance in the village.

A life of abundance

However, life wasn't always like this for Maryam. In her old village she had farm land and orchards where she would grow fruits such as guava and mango. In her old life Maryam was a trader and made a living selling goods at the local market. She also had her own hut which protected her from the elements and did not have to rely on anyone else to survive.

Back in their old village Maryam's children were able to get an education as they attended the local school. Since moving to Haouich none of her seven children have been to school and are struggling to remember what they had been taught.

However, she knows that despite the difficulties of her present life she cannot return home.

"I am afraid to go back to the place where I saw bloodshed in front of my eyes," she said. "I am happy to sacrifice some things to stay in a peaceful place."

Makeshift camp

Maryam is one of 700 internally displaced people who have settled in this makeshift camp. Islamic Relief has provided them with emergency relief items such as plastic sheeting, mats, kitchen sets, water cans, blankets and mosquito nets.

Over the next few months Islamic Relief will continue to support displaced people and the host community in Haouich. Islamic Relief has begun a new livelihood program to help people to settle and integrate into the community and is carrying out hygiene, education, water and sanitation projects and activities for young children.