UNHCR Warns of Humanitarian Crisis in Eastern Chad
The Sudanese civil war has uprooted the country's stability and citizens' safety in areas like the southern province of Darfur, where violence is rampant and has been intensifying since 2023. This has forced millions to flee their homes.
The UN has estimated that around 1.2 million Sudanese refugees from the Darfur region have fled to find shelter and sanctuary in neighbouring Chad. Since the Sudanese civil war broke out and intensified in 2023, 844,000 people have crossed the border.
Prior to this conflict, Chad had been hosting roughly 409,000 Sudanese refugees who fled the country during the Darfur genocide under President Omar Al-Bashir between 2003 and 2005. This conflict killed nearly 300,000 people and displaced 2.7 million.
Around 20,000 people have fled the country in the last two weeks, crossing the border through areas like the Wadi Fira Province. Most of these new arrivals come from Northern Darfur, where violence has sharply escalated.
Armed gangs and the Sudanese military have moved through the areas, causing great amounts of violence , with villages being burnt to the ground and reports indicating that women and children have been raped and killed.
The situation of the refugees is extremely dire; many have been subjected to harsh conditions, including enduring robberies and extortion at the checkpoints, while others, including women and children, arrived wounded.
Meanwhile, Chad itself has also been going through a difficult period with new governance under General Mahamat Deby Itno, after the death of President Idriss Deby. Local communities and authorities have stated that the influx has left them overstretched.
Humanitarian resources across eastern Chad are limited, with critical shortages in water, shelter, health, education, and protection. This has increased the perilous nature of the journey that these refugees have been forced to undertake.
The UNHCR has recently called for the international community to urgently step up and support the UN response to the crisis. The UN Special Representative in Central Africa Abdou Abarry raised the alarm, stating during a recent meeting of the UN Security Council that Chad is trying to provide additional emergency humanitarian assistance and stabilization programs but needs more support.
This growing refugee crisis is the latest tragic development in the Sudanese conflict, which is expected to have a big impact on the region.
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