Reps. Omar, Jacobs, and Cicilline Send Letter to Biden Administration Calling for Humanitarian and Displacement Assistance for Chadians

WASHINGTON–Today, Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Sara Jacobs (D-CA.), and David Cicilline (D-RI) led a letter to Secretary Blinken and Administrator Power urging the administration to take bold action to address the dire humanitarian crisis in Chad’s Lac province.

“We are writing to urge you to take bold action in response to the dire humanitarian crisis in Chad’s Lac province. Nearly a decade after violent attacks from groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa spilt into Chad, resulting displacement continues to rise. Alarmingly, the government of Chad continues to shirk its responsibility to provide for its internally displaced citizens. We applaud the Department of State and USAID for spearheading U.S. efforts to address Chad’s ongoing humanitarian and displacement crisis, but the U.S.government should now urgently take actionable steps in humanitarian diplomacy efforts and additional funding support,” the members wrote.

“We urge the U.S. government to support the people of Chad by calling on Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo to lead the process of codifying into law Chad’s obligations to protect and assist its internally displaced people, in accordance with the African Union’s Kampala Convention.”

As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, the lawmakers are also requesting the U.S. renew their commitment to provide humanitarian aid at the Lake Chad Basin Conference next week in Niamey, Niger.

A full copy of the letter can be found here.

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