Over 680,000 Sudanese refugees flee to Chad, where limited resources strain the nation’s capacity to handle the unprecedented crisis.
Chad now shelters over 680,000 Sudanese refugees fleeing the violent conflict in Sudan, with around 60,000 new arrivals recorded last month alone, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Women and children make up the majority of those arriving after long, gruelling journeys across the border.
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The stories told by refugees highlight the horrific conditions they left behind. “We had nothing to eat at home; part of my house was also burnt down,” a refugee shared.
“Before we left, seven people were killed in front of our house. Nights were terrifying. I lost all my precious possessions, including our livestock.
We have lost everything.” Refugees like this family are now forced to begin anew in a country with limited means to support them.
Chad, already grappling with poverty, food insecurity, and climate challenges, faces its largest refugee influx to date, as noted by UNHCR.
This sudden surge is stretching the country’s resources, compounding the difficulties of its weak economy and inadequate infrastructure.
For many Sudanese refugees, the safety they find in Chad comes with new challenges, as the country struggles to provide for its own citizens amid this unprecedented demand.
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, underscored the need for a sustainable approach to the refugee crisis.
“In a context of non-stop humanitarian emergencies, of insufficient humanitarian funding, and where displacement is increasingly protracted, we need to rethink our approaches to refugee displacement to make them more sustainable,” Grandi stated.
Chad’s efforts, though commendable, are limited by resources and funding shortages. To address this crisis effectively, the UN is calling for international support to help Chad manage both immediate relief needs and long-term solutions that would empower both refugees and host communities.
