Oxfam has welcomed the fact that the government of Chad has committed itself to ensuring security in Chad, following the United Nations decision to withdraw its peacekeeping force, Minurcat, from Chad. Contrary to what RFI previously reported, the NGO says it did not welcome Minurcat's withdrawal.

"All that we need is security in order to be able to access our beneficiaries and to have protection for civilians. Whether that's Minurcat or the government, our concern is that there's security," Pauline Ballaman, the Oxfam Chad representative, told RFI.

"We're feeling reassured that we will have the security in which to be able to do our work and that the humanitarian space will be enlarged again and that civilians will benefit from protection."

The withdrawal of the mission was requested by Chad and will be completed by the end of the year. Minurcat has been in the country since 2007. It has 3,814 personnel in Chad this year.