The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a grave warning about the rapidly rising number of Sudanese refugees fleeing into eastern Chad. In a recent statement, the UN agency called for urgent international solidarity and immediate funding to meet the soaring humanitarian needs and ensure protection and assistance for the vulnerable population.
Over the past two weeks alone, approximately 20,000 people—mainly women and children—have crossed the border, seeking refuge from escalating violence in Sudan’s Darfur region. According to UNHCR, the largest influx was recorded at the Tiné border crossing in Chad’s Wadi Fira province, where nearly 6,000 refugees arrived in just two days.
Violence in Darfur Drives Mass Displacement
Magatte Guisse, UNHCR’s representative in Chad, stated that since April 21, more than 14,000 people have been recorded in Wadi Fira, including 12,000 in just the past week. An additional 5,300 people have arrived in the eastern Ennedi region, with over 1,000 crossing the border on a single day.
“This sudden surge reflects the alarming escalation of violence in northern Darfur, especially in and around the city of El Fasher,” Guisse explained. “People are fleeing for their lives as armed groups launch brutal assaults on displacement camps like Zamzam and Abu Shouk, as well as populated areas.”
Refugees arriving in Chad recount harrowing experiences: violent attacks, gross human rights abuses, and destruction of entire communities. Many reported witnessing men being executed, women and girls subjected to sexual violence, and homes burned to the ground. The escape itself was perilous—filled with theft, extortion, and repeated threats at checkpoints along the way.
UNHCR estimates that more than 10,000 additional people are still en route to Chad, desperate to escape the chaos in Sudan.
Chad Overwhelmed by the Refugee Burden
Chad is currently hosting around 1.3 million refugees, including nearly 800,000 Sudanese who have fled the conflict since it began more than two years ago. Despite its limited resources, Chad has shown exceptional solidarity by continuing to receive refugees. But the UN warns that the country cannot shoulder this burden alone.
“Since April 23, eight convoys have transported about 1,850 newly arrived refugees to the Iridimi site in Wadi Fira,” Guisse said. “UNHCR and its partners are providing emergency relief at border points and transit locations, but our current efforts are falling short of the overwhelming need.”
Humanitarian resources across Chad remain severely stretched. Refugees face dire shortages of clean water, shelter, healthcare, and education. UNHCR emphasized that only 20% of the $409 million required for the 2025 refugee response plan in Chad has been funded to date.
A Progressive Step: Right to Work for Refugees
Amid the crisis, Chad has taken a rare and commendable step in the region by enacting legislation that grants Sudanese refugees the right to work. The law aims to improve their living conditions, encourage self-reliance, and reduce dependence on humanitarian aid, while allowing them to contribute economically to their host communities.
This progressive policy has been widely welcomed by human rights organizations and the international community, who see it as a model for other host countries in the region. For many Sudanese refugees, it offers a glimmer of hope—a chance to rebuild their lives in a more stable environment.
However, implementation poses challenges. Chad’s job market must be able to absorb the influx of workers, and clear policies are needed to prevent exploitation and ensure fair labor conditions.
Camps in Crisis: Overcrowding and Diminishing Supplies
Inside the refugee camps, conditions continue to deteriorate. Overcrowding, food insecurity, and lack of access to medical care remain critical concerns. Refugees live in fragile shelters, with limited access to clean water or sanitation, heightening the risk of disease outbreaks and security threats.
Despite ongoing humanitarian efforts, international support has fallen far short. Food rations are insufficient to meet daily nutritional needs, and critical sectors such as protection and education suffer the greatest response gaps, according to aid organizations.
Some nations, including Germany, have stepped in with financial support, and international NGOs have worked to deliver basic supplies and improve camp infrastructure. Still, these efforts barely scratch the surface of what is required to address the scale of the crisis.
A Call for Immediate Action
As the refugee crisis deepens, UNHCR reiterates its appeal to the global community: step up support, protect civilian lives, and provide safe passage for those fleeing conflict. “We must put an end to the attacks on civilians in Sudan,” Guisse urged. “People fleeing war deserve safety, dignity, and hope.”
Without swift action, the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Chad threatens to spiral further out of control—leaving hundreds of thousands of lives hanging in the balance.
