International Medical Corps compound attacked in Chad; staff evacuated to safety

Santa Monica, Calif. – A group of armed attackers assaulted International Medical Corps’ Guereda compound on Friday, August 4th.

Because of rain and high winds, the intruders entered the compound without being heard. They assaulted three international staff before making off with assets intended for the nearly 50,000 Sudanese refugees and 110,000 Chadians living within the IMC area of operations.

Following this latest attack in Guereda, the remaining humanitarian agencies in the area are minimizing staffing levels and reducing some humanitarian operations.

IMC is deeply concerned by the ongoing deterioration in security and the inter-ethnic violence in Eastern Chad, which is making it difficult for NGOs in general to access vulnerable populations and deliver essential care. IMC will maintain minimum operating levels while it assesses the security environment in the coming days.

International Medical Corps is a global humanitarian non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, IMC is a private, voluntary, apolitical, non-sectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in areas worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, IMC rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.