The region to the east of Chad - on the border with Sudan - is undergoing a period of prolonged instability. In December, clashes between government forces and Chadian rebel groups broke out in and around the city of Adré. Since then regular attacks by the Chad rebels or armed fighters have targeted villages on both sides. Everyday brings one or more wounded to the hospital of Adré where we're working.

This period of instability has also led to populations being displaced - either villagers fleeing an attack, or people trying to flee border areas to avoid attacks. Humanitarian aid however is concentrated in the official refugee camps housing Sudanese refugees from the Darfur area (there are approximately 200,000 in the region), and is not reaching vulnerable people outside these areas.

To the south of Adré, in Koloye, around 16,000 people arrived at the end of December. MSF is bolstering our operations in this area with a mobile clinic to carry out consultations in Adré and Koloye. MSF medical presence here should put the organisation in a position to stabilise and transfer those wounded in armed attacks, and to react in the event of epidemics.

Though the Sudanese refugees are worried by rumours that they will be subject to attack and oppression on their return, for the time being the violence has not yet directly affected the camps housing them. The instability has however disrupted the flow of humanitarian aid to the area.

An attack on Guérédé - a village to the north of Adré - prompted the departure of 150 personnel of various NGOs and UN agencies, bringing concern over the level of assistance available.