"Up to 20,000 people have crossed the river border between Chad and Cameroon since the weekend, and as of Tuesday morning, many frightened people were still crossing in a continuous flow," Ron Redmond, spokesman for UNHCR, said Tuesday during a news briefing in Geneva.
UNHCR has said preparations are currently underway to send two airlift flights this week to Cameroon from its regional aid stockpiles in Dubai, carrying a total of 90 tons of relief supplies, enough for some 14,000 refugees.
Heavy fighting broke out on February 2 in the Chadian capital N'Djamena between government troops and armed rebels, attempting to overthrow president Idriss Deby from power, causing grave concern around the world. The United States said has it was concerned over the deadly unrest in Chad and called on the international community to help resolve the crisis.
Although no figures of death casualties have been provided so far, it is believed that many people may have died during the fighting, mainly as a result of cross fire and stray bullets. Witnesses described the scenes as "bloody and chaotic" with bodies littering the streets and looting reported in many shops.
Chad, a French colony until 1960, has experienced countless civil wars and invasions since its independence, and the recent discovery of rich oil deposits has only intensified the struggle for power in the largely desert country.
