More than one million Sudanese refugees in Chad are facing severe cuts to essential humanitarian assistance as UNHCR and the World Food Programme warn of a critical US$428 million funding shortfall. The agencies say that without urgent financial support, life-saving services such as food, clean water, shelter, healthcare, and protection will be drastically reduced in the coming months, worsening already dire conditions in refugee-hosting areas. Chad currently hosts around 1.3 million Sudanese refugees, most of whom arrived after the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in 2023, placing immense strain on already limited national resources.
Due to funding gaps, only four in ten refugees are currently receiving basic assistance, while tens of thousands of families remain without adequate shelter, access to clean water, or reliable healthcare. Overcrowded settlements are facing deteriorating living conditions, with severe shortages in nutrition support, overwhelmed schools, and reduced services for survivors of gender-based violence. In eastern border regions, more than 243,000 people remain in precarious conditions without relocation support, exposed to disease, insecurity, and harsh weather.
Humanitarian agencies warn that women and children are being hit the hardest as food assistance has already been cut for many households. Despite efforts to provide long-term resilience programs, emergency aid remains essential to survival. UN officials stress that without immediate donor intervention, the crisis will deepen significantly, leading to further suffering among refugees who have already fled ongoing conflict.
