The Sudanese conflict continues to rage, causing a massive influx of refugees into neighboring Chad. In just five months, more than five million people have been displaced by the fighting, including nearly 420,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad.
Every day, hundreds of refugees continue to cross the border, although the number is slightly lower than in recent months. Following the massacres that occurred in West Darfur, thousands of people fled daily to find safety and protection in Chad.
The Chadian government has sought to respond to this influx by relocating refugees to three permanent camps located in the Assoungha department. However, these efforts are not enough and the Adré camp, which currently hosts more than 200,000 people, remains overcrowded. Living conditions in the camp are precarious, with a shortage of basic foodstuffs and worrying sanitary conditions, favoring the spread of diseases such as malaria, especially during the rainy season.
The refugees met in the Adré camp, mainly Massalit, recount the daily atrocities they suffered in areas controlled by paramilitaries and affiliated Arab militias. These stories are often marked by the loss of loved ones, brothers, parents or children who disappeared or were killed near the camp. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 85% of Sudanese refugees registered in Chad are vulnerable women and children.
Faced with this humanitarian emergency, the Chadian authorities deplore an insufficient response from the international community. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has announced a support strategy to ensure the protection of refugees. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, president of the organization, carried out a mission to the refugee camps in Adré and Farchana to assess the needs. She emphasizes that although progress has been made in health and medical assistance, more efforts are needed, particularly in access to water and family reunification.
Meanwhile, General Abdel Fattah al-Bourhane, head of the regular Sudanese army, is seeking international support in the conflict pitting him against General Hemetti’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. He recently visited Uganda to try to rally international support.
The situation in Sudan remains unstable and the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen. There is a need to mobilize more resources and assistance to meet the needs of Sudanese refugees and find a peaceful and lasting solution to this conflict.