To cut a long story short, I know a 23-year-old man from Chad who first arrived in the UK as a refugee in 2002. He was spirited out of the country for his own safety as his parents were taken and killed by militia. It took him 3 months by camel, road, train and car. The only other family he has is his sister who fled to the Tibesti before he left but he has no idea where she is now or whether she’s still alive.

He’s now in London, speaks good English, French and Arabic, keeps in work but is desperate to go back to Chad to see if his sister is still alive. He wants to move on with his life without his all-pervading feelings of survivors guilt. He now has a British passport so he has limited protection if he goes back home.

I’ve travelled a lot in Africa and grew up in east Africa but I have no experience of Chad. I’d like to be able to offer this lovely young man some help but it looks as though Chad is not a great place to go right now. If anyone has up-to-the-minute advice on getting to and travelling in Chad I’d be very grateful for any help. As a British citizen, he’ll need a visa (Paris? Brussels?) and it seems that Air France amongst others have very expensive direct flights to Ndjamena. He then wants to go to Faya Largeau north east of Ndjamena and he’s talking about going to the Tibesti…I’ve also heard that some people get to Chad via Cameroun.

It’s clearly important for him that he goes but for those that know him and have helped him in his 6 years so far in the UK, we want him to come back in one piece. If anyone has any recent on-the-ground experience about getting to and around Chad I’d be very grateful for any assistance.

Thanks

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pigapitcha

http://www.jljphotography.co.uk

Have a look at lonely planet thorn tree. Go to the pieces about Chad and try to contact a certain Ravi. He seems to know a lot about travelling in Tibesti.

Other option: try to contact the (American?) missionary thet was kidnapped for nine months in Tibesti. At the bbc website you find a news item about his liberation, earlier this year.

I know this is a long shot, but the best person I can think to ask off the top of my head is David Axe. He's an independent journalist with contacts and experience in Chad, and he's going there soon so he'll be conducting good research right now. He'd give you better advice than the thorn tree forum, in my opinion (if he's not too busy to reply, which he might be). His blog and contact information can be found at:

warisboring.com

Good luck to your friend!

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Jeremy Kroeker
www.MotorcycleTherapy.com

Thanks for the messages above. It's not that popular a place right now but I'll follow up the suggestions.

Thanks

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pigapitcha

http://www.jljphotography.co.uk

pls email me jpgaillard@gmail.com. I think I know someone who will help.