Oxfam on the border: Where the crisis in Darfur, Chad and Central Africa meets

Um Dukhun

Almost straddling the border of Darfur and Chad, and less than 30 kilometres from the Central African Republic, the town of Um Dukhun perfectly illustrates the increasingly regional nature of the Darfur crisis, spilling over into neighbouring countries.

Before the conflict it was a small town famous for its market that attracted traders from all over the region. Today, as well as people seeking refuge from violence and attacks on villages elsewhere in Darfur, thousands of refugees from Chad have sought shelter here. In recent months refugees have also arrived from the CAR.

Initially the Fur and Masalit tribes made up the majority of the town's inhabitants, but in the late 1980s other tribes suffering from famine - both African and Arab - moved into the area, increasing competition for natural resources. Oxfam has been working in the area for three years, providing essential water, sanitation and public health education.