Latest news with #Chad
ABC News
25 minutes ago
- General
- ABC News
More than four million refugees have fled Sudan, UN says
More than four million refugees have fled Sudan since the beginning of its civil war in 2023, UN refugee agency officials say. The world's most "damaging displacement crisis" is now in its third year, with many survivors facing lack of shelter due to funding shortages, the UN said. "If the conflict continues in Sudan, we expect thousands more people will continue to flee, putting regional and global stability at stake," UN refugee agency spokesperson Eujin Byun said. Sudan, which erupted with violence in April 2023, shares borders with seven countries: Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Central African Republic and Libya. Sudan's regular army has been fighting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces as leaders vied for power. The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 13 million — nearly a quarter of Sudan's population — ravaged the country's infrastructure and caused famine in some areas. More than 800,000 of the refugees have arrived in Chad, where their shelter conditions are dire due to funding shortages, with only 14 per cent of funding appeals met, UNHCR's Dossou Patrice Ahouansou said. "This is an unprecedented crisis that we are facing," he said. This is a crisis of humanity. Many of those fleeing reported surviving terror and violence, he added, describing meeting a seven-year-old girl in Chad who was hurt in an attack on her home in Sudan's Zamzam displacement camp. The girl's father and two brothers were killed in the attack and her leg was amputated during her escape, he said. Her mother had been killed in an earlier attack, Mr Ahouansou said. Other refugees told stories of armed groups taking their horses and donkeys and forcing adults to draw their own family members by cart as they fled, he said. Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Monday there is an "absence of exposure to this crisis globally, and across much of the Western world". "The crisis in Sudan… is the worst humanitarian catastrophe in the world currently and it is a matter of deep, deep concern," Lammy said. In just over a month, more than 65,000 refugees have arrived in Chad's Wadi Fira and Ennedi Est provinces, with an average of 1,400 people crossing the border daily in recent days, according to the UN refugee agency. "These civilians are fleeing in terror, many under fire, navigating armed checkpoints, extortion, and tight restrictions imposed by armed groups," the agency said. Over 17 million Sudanese children are out of school, 5,000 have been kidnapped or missing and 3,000 children have died in the war which broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the rival RSF on April 15, 2023, according to Sudan's National Council for Child Welfare. Child abuse has worsened since the outbreak of the war, with UN reports revealing children have been forcibly recruited as fighters, and cases of sexual abuse and slavery have increased. Aid has frequently come under the crossfire in the two-year-old war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has left more than half the population facing crisis levels of hunger. Refugees currently receive only 5 litres of water per person per day, well below the international standard of 15 to 20 litres for basic daily needs. As part of the Sudan Regional Refugee Response, UNHCR and partners in Chad are urgently seeking over US$550 million ($850) to respond to the life-saving needs of refugees fleeing Sudan into eastern Chad, including protection, shelter, food, water and sanitation. ABC/wires
Zawya
2 hours ago
- General
- Zawya
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warns crisis reaching breaking point as Sudanese refugee numbers triple in Chad
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is raising the alarm over the deepening humanitarian emergency in eastern Chad, where the number of Sudanese refugees has more than tripled in just over two years of deadly conflict. Since April 2023, more than 844,000 Sudanese refugees have crossed into Chad. Prior to this latest crisis, Chad was hosting approximately 409,000 Sudanese refugees who had fled earlier waves of conflict in Darfur between 2003 and 2023. In just over two years, the country has seen this refugee population surge to over 1.2 million people, far exceeding the number received during the previous two decades and placing unsustainable pressure on Chad's ability to respond. The most recent influx to Chad began in late April 2025, following violent attacks by armed groups in North Darfur in early April. Assaults on displacement camps, including Zamzam and Abu Shouk, and El Fasher town killed more than 300 civilians and sent tens of thousands in search of safety. In just over a month, 68,556 refugees have arrived in Chad's Wadi Fira and Ennedi Est provinces, with an average of 1,400 people crossing the border daily in recent days. These civilians are fleeing in terror, many under fire, navigating armed checkpoints, extortion, and tight restrictions imposed by armed groups. UNHCR protection teams have interviewed 6,810 newly-arrived refugees since late April, uncovering harrowing accounts of violence and loss. A staggering 72 per cent reported serious human rights violations, including physical and sexual violence, arbitrary detention, and forced recruitment; 60 per cent said they had been separated from family members. As well as a displacement emergency, there is a devastating children's crisis unfolding. Among school-aged children, 66 per cent are currently out of education, and 30 children have arrived with serious injuries. Among those affected is Hawa, a seven-year-old girl who fled to Chad with her older sister after losing her mother, father and two brothers in a bombardment of Zamzam. During the attack, Hawa sustained severe injuries and one of her legs had to be amputated. Her story is just one among countless others that reflect the devastating physical and psychological toll of the ongoing war on civilians in Sudan. There is an urgent need to expand health-care provision and mental health support to address immediate suffering and lay the groundwork for recovery and reconciliation. Despite the efforts of humanitarian partners and local authorities, the emergency response remains dangerously underfunded. Shelter conditions are equally dire. Only 14 per cent of current needs are being met, leaving tens of thousands exposed to extreme weather and insecurity. Refugees currently receive only 5 litres of water per person per day, well below the international standard of 15 to 20 litres for basic daily needs. This severe shortage forces families to make impossible choices that put their health and dignity at risk. Additionally, around 290,000 refugees remain stranded at the border, exposed to the elements, insecurity and the risk of further violence. UNHCR also stresses the urgent need for the global community to acknowledge and act to eradicate the grave human rights abuses being endured in Sudan. The violence in and around El Fasher, the proliferation of checkpoints, and movement restrictions imposed by armed groups are making civilian movement increasingly perilous and contributing to rising risks for those still trying to flee. As part of the Sudan Regional Refugee Response, UNHCR and partners in Chad are urgently seeking $553.7 million to respond to the life-saving needs of refugees fleeing Sudan into eastern Chad, including protection, shelter, food, water and sanitation. Four million people have now fled Sudan into neighbouring countries since the start of the war, now in its third year – a devastating milestone in what is the world's most damaging displacement crisis. If the conflict continues, thousands more people will continue to flee, putting regional and global stability at stake. This is a crisis of humanity, of safety, and of childhood. The lives and futures of millions of innocent civilians, including children like Hawa, hang in the balance. Without a significant increase in funding, life-saving assistance cannot be delivered at the scale and speed required. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Zawya
2 hours ago
- General
- Zawya
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Provides 3,000 Food Packages to Support Sudanese Refugees in Chad
The United Arab Emirates has launched a new humanitarian initiative in the Republic of Chad to support Sudanese refugees, with 3,000 food packages distributed across the Dougui, Alacha, and Abougoudam refugee camps. The project was implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Social Action, Solidarity, and Humanitarian Affairs, and Chad's National Commission for the Reception and Reintegration of Refugees and Returnees (CNARR), as part of a comprehensive cooperation framework aimed at alleviating the suffering of refugees and meeting their vital needs. The relief initiative supported 15,000 Sudanese refugees across three primary camps: Dougui camp received 1,500 food packages, benefiting 7,500 individuals; Alacha camp received 1,300 packages for 6,500 people; and Abougoudam received 200 packages to support 1,000 individuals. The project aims to cover essential needs for an entire month, strengthening food security and improving living conditions. The initiative also included the deployment of a medical team to Abougoudam camp to provide healthcare services, addressing vital humanitarian requirements amid ongoing challenges. His Excellency Rashid Saeed Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Chad, said: 'This endeavor is part of the UAE's humanitarian and development approach, which places the welfare and dignity of individuals at the forefront. Furthermore, the project underscores the UAE's steadfast commitment to supporting those affected by crises and conflicts, particularly in regions experiencing mass displacement and severe humanitarian challenges.' His Excellency added: 'This important undertaking reflects the UAE's sustained and extensive efforts to bolster the socio-economic well-being of host communities in Chad. These initiatives foster social cohesion and humanitarian solidarity by providing essential aid supplies that ensure decent livelihoods, address regional displacement challenges, and support vulnerable populations globally. Our aim is to enhance the humanitarian and living conditions of refugees through direct assistance and international cooperation.' As part of its broader commitment to providing medical care for Sudanese refugees, the UAE has also established three field hospitals in neighboring countries: two in Amdjarass and Abéché in Chad, and a third, Madhol Hospital, in the Republic of South Sudan. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Veteran says 'death is not real' after what he saw when he 'died' in hospital
Chad Osinga, a retired US Army veteran who claims he had a near-death experience (NDE), shared what the incident taught him and how it had a profound impact on his life. An Army veteran who briefly died after being hit by a van has shared details about his "wild" near-death experience. In an episode of the JeffMara Podcast, Chad Osinga recounted what he saw after flatlining just before he was to undergo surgery. Chad had hit by a van travelling at 65mph and had to undergo an initial emergency surgery. However, medics didn't discover the extent of his injuries, and he says he flatlined as a result of infection prior to his second operation. 'Pushed into a different room' He said a nurse was asking him questions while he was undergoing "vital checks" before his operation, but when he responded, he started slurring his words, and could feel his body "get warm". However, what happened next was "wild", as Chad reported seeing himself being "pushed into a different room". In an out-of-body-experience, he said he could see a doctor and nurses trying to revive him, an experience he says was akin to "watching a movie". During this, Chad looked into the doctor's eyes and asked him to save him as his children needed him. It was at this point that Chad felt his "whole body jolting" as the medics revived him. He talked of feeling "peace" during the incident and how he "wasn't worried". Once he became conscious, however, he claimed he wasn't even aware that he'd had an NDE. 'I no longer feared death' Chad said: "The way I explain it to most people is when you say things in your head, you can hear it, right? Even... you can make whatever voice you want, so something hears that. Something is aware of this voice, right? "It was like I became that, whatever that is. That silence, that pause, that thing that we can't just put our finger on, you know? But we know it's there. For that moment in time, I was there. "I no longer feared death. I realised it wasn't real. Birth isn't real. None of this is. They are concepts. They are concepts that make us feel good about an experience that we don't understand, you know?" A profound impact He also detailed the profound impact the incident has had on his life. Chad said before his NDE that he was a "wreck" and that he "didn't care" about his life and would have "rather died than lived". Yet, when he returned to his life, the things that he used to enjoy didn't "remotely" satisfy him anymore. He said he started to care "so much more" about "little things," such as plants. Chad even suggested that he'd gained a newfound appreciation for life, as he wouldn't kill a spider after the incident, instead capturing it and releasing the creature outside. 'It really is kind of like a dream' Summing up, Chad said: "I think that the one thing that I remember the most out of that is the feeling that I had during that experience. It was...I mean, I can't even explain the type. I don't think I've ever had that type of peace ever in my life again, even after." He added that "everything is good" and that it was as if "this life isn't real". Chad went on to describe life as "kind of like a dream or a movie," theorising that it's "created by our mind."
The National
3 hours ago
- Business
- The National
UAE sends 3,000 food packages to Sudanese refugees in Chad
Aid will support 15,000 refugees, says Ministry of Foreign Affairs The UAE has sent 3,000 packages of food aid to refugees in Chad who have been displaced by Sudan's civil war. The aid will support 15,000 Sudanese refugees across three main camps. Dougui camp received 1,500 food packages, benefiting 7,500 people; Alacha camp received 1,300 packages for 6,500 people; and Abougoudam received 200 packages for 1,000 people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The project aims to meet essential needs for a month, while improving food security and living conditions. 'This endeavour is part of the UAE's humanitarian and development approach, which places the welfare and dignity of individuals at the forefront,' said Rashid Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Chad. 'Furthermore, the project underscores the UAE's steadfast commitment to supporting those affected by crises and conflicts, particularly in regions experiencing mass displacement and severe humanitarian challenges. 'This important undertaking reflects the UAE's sustained and extensive efforts to bolster the socio-economic well-being of host communities in Chad.' Essential aid supplies would ensure decent livelihoods, address regional displacement challenges and support vulnerable populations globally, added the ambassador. 'Our aim is to enhance the humanitarian and living conditions of refugees through direct assistance and international co-operation,' he said. The Sudanese Armed Forces are wrestling with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and allies for control of the country. Almost 13 million people, one in three Sudanese, have been displaced since the conflict began in April 2023.
