Humanitarian cash assistance programs are providing critical relief to Sudanese refugees in Chad, where hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by ongoing conflict. Through support from the Chad Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), vulnerable families are receiving financial aid to help meet urgent daily needs.
One of the beneficiaries, Kaltouma, fled her village in Sudan with her four children after violence broke out, forcing her to leave behind her home and belongings. Like many others, she undertook a difficult journey across the border into eastern Chad, where refugee camps are struggling to cope with rising numbers of arrivals and limited resources.
Since the start of the conflict in Sudan in 2023, more than 900,000 Sudanese refugees and hundreds of thousands of Chadian returnees have been registered in eastern provinces, placing significant pressure on host communities and humanitarian services. Families are facing severe challenges, including food insecurity, water shortages, and rising living costs.
In response, the Red Cross has implemented a cash assistance program reaching thousands of households across refugee camps and surrounding areas. Unlike in-kind aid, cash support allows families to prioritize their most urgent needs, such as food, clothing, healthcare, and other essential expenses.
For recipients like Kaltouma, the assistance provides not only material relief but also a sense of dignity and autonomy in rebuilding their lives. She described the support as an opportunity to care for her children and regain stability after multiple hardships, including loss and displacement.
Humanitarian organizations emphasize that continued assistance is essential as refugee arrivals persist and needs remain high. Alongside supporting displaced families, aid programs also extend to host communities that are sharing limited resources while demonstrating strong solidarity.
The initiative highlights the growing role of cash-based humanitarian assistance in crisis response, offering flexible and effective support to vulnerable populations while helping communities recover with greater resilience.
