Far North: the unsung heroes defying bullets and cholera

At first glance, the roads of the Logone-et-Chari department appear deceptively calm. However, beneath the surface, danger lurks. Just a stone’s throw from the Nigerian border, massive lorries have been trapped in the mud for weeks, serving as silent witnesses to the harshness of the climate. Above and along the roads, the furious roar of military convoys racing at full speed serves as a stark reminder of the chilling reality: we are in a war zone.

In these conflict-affected areas, people live in constant fear. They face almost daily attacks by non-state armed groups, as well as an invisible but equally formidable enemy: cholera.

Yet amidst this chaos, where even the slightest movement can be fatal, a glimmer of resilience shines through. Young volunteers from the organisation Action for the Respect of Human Rights and Human Dignity (ARDHU), supported by UNICEF, bravely navigate the mud and danger on their motorbikes to save lives in the villages.

A daily game of chess against insecurity

For Nicodème and Mahamat, aid workers with the ARDHU network, every field mission is a matter of high-level strategy. To spread the message about cholera prevention and support traumatised families, one must know how to circumvent death.

“Whenever we want to go out into the field, we contact the traditional leaders to gauge the situation. If the light is green, we go. If not, we wait,” says Nicodème, a social worker in Ardhu.

Thanks to this community-based approach and UNICEF’s support, nearly sixty families affected by the disease in Sagmé and Fotokol are receiving vital support. But on the ground, the disease does not just attack the body: it also breaks people’s spirits.

Christophe, the ‘doctor of souls’ at the eye of the storm

How can one offer comfort to bereaved or stigmatised families when one is oneself living under the constant threat of armed violence? To prevent their teams from collapsing under the weight of trauma, ARDHU and UNICEF have deployed Christophe, a clinical psychologist who tirelessly travels between Makary, Kousséri, Fotokol and Blangoua.

Its mission: to look after the mental health of the aid workers themselves.

“Even though his job is extremely demanding, Christophe’s support is invaluable in helping us cope with the regular killings in the region,” says Nicodème with deep gratitude. “It’s crucial: if we’re not in the right frame of mind, we can’t provide effective psychosocial support to the communities.”

Armed with this emotional support, the volunteers are working towards three objectives: raising awareness of mental health, offering a sympathetic ear to people in emotional distress, and preventing crises from escalating within households.

Healing bodies, restoring dignity

On the ground, the stigma surrounding cholera is a monster in its own right. All too often, the fear of contagion isolates those who are ill and disgraces entire families. This is where the work of Mahamat, a community worker, really comes into its own.

“Our primary aim is to help people with cholera come to terms with the disease without feeling ashamed. We show them that they are not alone. We raise awareness amongst the family and the whole village so that they can support the patient. And once they have recovered, we ensure that they are fully reintegrated into the community,” explains Mahamat.

In Makary, as in Fotokol, in the face of armed incursions and health threats, the response from UNICEF and its partner ARDHU remains the same: never to abandon any child or any family. As long as there are lives to protect and minds to rebuild, Nicodème, Mahamat and Christophe will continue to set out on their journeys.

Health, protection and dignity for every child.