In southern Chad, a small humanitarian revolution is underway. In Donia (Logone Oriental), the UNHCR, the European Union and the Chadian government officially launched PACRAS : the Project for Alternatives to Camps and Agricultural Resilience in Southern Chad.

The objective is clear: to move 145,000 Central African refugees away from dependency and towards economic self-sufficiency.

1. From emergency to economic inclusion

For many Central Africans, exile has lasted for more than 20 years. PACRAS proposes to break the cycle of humanitarian dependence by transforming beneficiaries into economic actors.

1. Voluntary relocation: 4,000 refugees will leave the camps to settle permanently in five villages in the canton of Donia.
2. Adapting to the long term: As Laura Rozo (UNHCR) explains, aid must evolve when displacement becomes permanent.

2. A massive investment in local agriculture (2 billion FCFA)

Funded by the European Union, this project is not simply a relocation. It is a genuine local development plan:

Area of intervention	Concrete actions
Agriculture	Pooling land between refugees and local people to boost production.
Infrastructure	Strengthening schools, health centers and access to water.
Economy	Support for the marketing of crops to boost local markets.

3. Ecology and peaceful coexistence

To avoid conflicts related to the use of natural resources, PACRAS incorporates a strong environmental component:

1. Reforestation: Planting of 5,000 trees.
2. Energy: Distribution of 1,000 improved cookstoves to limit deforestation.

The challenge: To guarantee harmonious integration and lasting understanding between newcomers and host populations.

A laboratory for the continent?

With over 1.5 million refugees , Chad is one of the most hospitable countries in the world. If PACRAS succeeds, it could serve as a "benchmark model" for all of Africa, proving that a prolonged crisis can be transformed into a catalyst for shared prosperity.