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The Road System Across Chad: The Good and The Bad

The Road Across Chad: Not as bad as before

During my last term in Chad, my boss asked me to explain why our vehicle in Chad had so many expensive repairs.  Here is what I said about the roads across Chad:

This bus hit something standing on the road on the way to its destination“I could easily speak of the inconveniences of Chadian driving. It is very easy to get lost without a GPS along the way. My vehicle would often get stuck in soft sand. However, I will limit my comments here to the conditions that are hazardous to vehicles.”
“The roads in Chad have improved since I started serving in Chad in 1992. Back then, there were only 80 miles of paved tarmac, and we spent most of our time driving around the pits that had been dug in by the big transport trucks. Thankfully in our day, there is a paved highway from N’Djaména to Andoum and beyond to the Cameroon border, and all but 160 miles of highway from N’Djaména to Abéché.”

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The Plastic Kettle: running water where you need it

What was the most useful thing to you during this year’s wind storm?  For me, it’s a plastic kettle I brought home from Chad on my last trip there.

In Chad, internal plumbing in a rented home can be a big hassle.  I have seen faucets in bedrooms, but none in the kitchen or bathroom.  Some faucets are a few feet above the ground, perfect for filling up a bucket!  I have also seen them well above my head, too high for me to reach.

How do you get water from strange places to where you need it most?

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