Chad: Safety through light: how access to light improves the lives of populations during times of crisis

Country: Chad Source: Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development In eastern Chad, the Dougui settlement lies at the heart of an emergency humanitarian response to the violence that has erupted in neighboring Sudan since 2023. Designed to provide dignified shelter for displaced populations, the site already hosts more than 20,000 people, yet still faces major infrastructure and safety needs. As public lighting represents a critical protection issue, ACTED, with the support of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, is working to illuminate high-risk areas and help ensure a safer and more protective environment. Lack of lighting: a major driver of vulnerability in Dougui More than 100 km from the Sudanese border, the Dougui settlement site was established to provide a safer environment for populations fleeing violence in Darfur. Located in the Ouaddaï province — which has received the majority of refugees since the start of the conflict — the site has become a key relocation area, hosting a population made up of 74% women and children, many of whom arrived in extremely vulnerable conditions. Despite its crucial role, Dougui continues to face limited capacities: essential infrastructure, including shelters, latrines, and public lighting, remains insufficient, exposing women and girls to heightened risks of violence and abuse. Working closely with communities to identify major protection risks and define appropriate mitigation measures, ACTED teams regularly conduct safety audits through discussions with women and girls on the site, visual assessments, and participatory mapping workshops. The latest assessment revealed that 28% of surveyed households reported protection incidents during the previous two weeks, including theft, domestic violence, sexual assault, and physical attacks. In particular, t...

Original source: Relief Web