In a desperate bid for safety, thousands of Sudanese families are fleeing their war-torn country, arriving in the impoverished nation of Chad. This influx is part of a larger humanitarian crisis, as over 4.3 million Sudanese have sought refuge in neighboring countries since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023. The conflict, primarily between the government-aligned Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has generated one of the world’s worst displacement crises.
According to the United Nations, nearly 12 million people in Sudan have been forced to abandon their homes due to violence and hunger. Many fleeing Sudan are arriving in eastern Chad, where safety and food are increasingly scarce. Tine, a border town, has become a critical point of entry for families escaping the violence in Sudan, particularly from regions like Darfur.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Chad
The overwhelming number of refugees is exacerbating an already dire situation in Chad, where approximately seven million people, including at least half of whom are children, require humanitarian assistance. Daily arrivals in Tine have led to heightened competition for limited resources such as food, water, and shelter. Local resident Abdulsalam Abubakar shared his frustration, stating, “Everything in the market here is expensive; nothing is cheap.”
According to traders like Khadijah Kurgule, the skyrocketing prices are a direct result of increased demand. “Now food is expensive because more than 10,000 Sudanese arrived here after their country disintegrated,” she explained. The impact of this influx extends beyond economic strain; humanitarian aid workers are concerned about potential tensions between refugees and host communities.
Long queues at water and aid distribution points have become a common sight. Local hospitals and schools are also feeling the strain, with services stretched beyond capacity. John-Paul Habamungu, a representative from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), noted that 57 percent of the incoming Sudanese population are of school age, yet no schools are available for them. “We don’t have the funding to construct at least temporarily learning spaces,” he admitted.
International Response and Sanctions
The international community is responding to the crisis, albeit with limited effectiveness. The European Union recently imposed sanctions on Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, deputy leader of the RSF, for his role in the violence in el-Fasher. These sanctions include a travel ban, asset freezes, and restrictions on financial profits within the EU. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized that this action sends a strong message about accountability for those responsible for the ongoing violence.
As the humanitarian situation in Chad continues to deteriorate, the UN is working to relocate some refugees to less crowded areas. However, aid workers warn that the worst may still be on the horizon as the conflict within Sudan shows no signs of abating. The challenges faced by both refugees and host communities are immense, reflecting a crisis that requires urgent attention and resources.
