At least 42 people have been killed and 10 others injured in eastern Chad after clashes between rival ethnic groups sparked by a dispute over a water well, authorities say.
The conflict took place in the Wadi Fira province, where it initially involved two families, but then escalated into revenge attacks that spread over a wide area. As a result, several villages have been completely burned, the BBC reports.
The Chadian government announced that a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Limane Mahamat has been sent to the area, and the situation is said to be now under control.
Such clashes are common in the Central African country, where tensions between farmers and herders, as well as ethnic divisions, have created ongoing conflicts. They are often fueled by competition for vital resources such as water and grazing land.
The situation has been further worsened by the arrival of refugees fleeing the civil war in Sudan, increasing pressure on resources and security in border areas.
Authorities have stated that they are taking measures to prevent the conflict in Sudan from further destabilizing the border region.
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