WASHINGTON, June 12 (UPI) -- U.S. citizens working for humanitarian agencies with operations in eastern Chad are advised to have an evacuation plan ready, the State Department said.
Nigerian military commanders told Nigerian newspaper ThisDay fighters affiliated with militant group Boko Haram had fled toward Niger and Chad as security forces make their way north. A state of emergency was declared last month in parts of Nigeria in response to the Boko Haram threat.
The U.S. State Department advisory said the security situation in Chad had improved since a peace deal was reached with Sudan in 2010. Rebel groups in Chad have recently disarmed, though the advisory warned security threats could re-emerge in the future.
The advisory, posted Tuesday, said the frequency of violent crime in Chad was "highly variable" and incidents of murder are widespread. U.S. citizens working in the country are advised to be on high alert.
"All U.S. citizens affiliated with humanitarian relief efforts in eastern Chad should have an evacuation plan developed with the United Nations agency coordinating their work on the ground," the advisory stated.
The advisory said the security situation in Chad could deteriorate unexpectedly despite recent trends toward stability.
