The urgent need for humanitarian aid for Sudanese refugees in Chad
Impact of the funding shortfall on the refugee population
Challenges on the ground and the international response
The urgent need for humanitarian aid for Sudanese refugees in Chad
More than a million Sudanese refugees in Chad face a serious threat due to cuts in humanitarian aid, according to warnings from the UN, the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNHCR. The crisis triggered by the armed conflict in Sudan has led to a mass exodus to Chad, where the ability of international agencies to provide assistance is severely limited by a lack of resources.
Since hostilities began, more than 1.3 million Sudanese have crossed the border, fleeing ruthless violence, particularly in Darfur, where massacres and famine have occurred. This situation creates an extremely delicate humanitarian scenario for Chad, where local systems cannot meet the basic needs of the refugee population without international support.
UNHCR acknowledges that only around 40% of displaced people are being assisted, limiting access to shelter, basic services and adequate nutrition. This reality underscores the importance of maintaining and increasing funding to prevent a humanitarian collapse that would affect hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people.
A makeshift clinic run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) amid ongoing clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Army in Tawila, North Darfur, Sudan, on 3 November 2025 – REUTERS/MOHAMED JAMAL
Impact of the funding shortfall on the refugee population
The funding shortfall of over 400 million dollars is the main reason behind cuts to assistance for Sudanese refugees in Chad. The WFP and UNHCR warn that without new funds, the provision of food, drinking water and essential services will be further reduced in the coming months, worsening the living conditions of the displaced population.
Current resources do not even meet the minimum subsistence level, forcing many families to resort to precarious coping mechanisms. This critical situation includes a reduction in the number of daily meals and limited access to water, which increases the risks of malnutrition and disease.
Furthermore, the reduction in international aid is linked to cuts in cooperation from some donor countries, such as the United States, combined with budgetary priorities that favour increased defence spending. This shift in the global agenda further complicates the humanitarian situation, exacerbating the vulnerability of refugees.
A member of staff points to World Food Programme (WFP) lorries transporting food and nutritional supplies from Chad to the Zamzam camp in Darfur, Sudan, in Adre, Chad – WFP via REUTERS
Challenges on the ground and the international response
Conditions for refugees are particularly harsh in regions such as East Ennedi, where access to water barely exceeds half the recommended daily minimum. Education is another affected sector, with overcrowded classrooms that, in some cases, house more than one hundred pupils per teacher, reflecting insufficient infrastructure and staffing.
The Norwegian Refugee Council has highlighted the food insecurity faced by the population, with nearly 70% of refugee families reducing the number of meals they eat. The combination of scarce resources, a constant influx of new displaced people and a regional context of prolonged crisis in the Sahel is exacerbating the humanitarian emergency.
The UN stresses the need for a renewed international response to prevent the collapse of aid. Without adequate funding, the sustainability of essential services for refugees is at risk, which could lead to increased mortality and further social deterioration.
Addressing this challenge requires a strong commitment from governments and international organisations to prioritise cooperation and ensure that displaced communities receive the aid necessary to survive and rebuild their lives in dignity.