The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has announced that the conflict in Sudan has forced over 600,000 Sudanese refugees and 180,000 Chadian refugees to flee from Sudan to Chad. The commission stated in a statement that "the humanitarian crisis in eastern Chad has reached a critical stage," urging for "immediate international support for Sudanese refugees at the border with Chad."
The commission added that "the flow of refugees does not seem to be declining, as around 630 people crossed daily during the month of May from the Adré border crossing between Chad and Sudan." It reported that it had "expanded refugee camps in collaboration with its partners and built two villages for returning Chadians," clarifying that these efforts "are not enough to meet the large needs of refugees in Chad."
It confirmed that "a third of the newcomers to Chad are currently living in difficult conditions in unorganized sites along the border." The UN agency warned that "the situation may deteriorate quickly at the Chadian border, where the likelihood of further displacement remains high due to ongoing fighting in the Sudanese city of El Fasher and the neighboring rural areas in North Darfur."
The Refugee Commission explained that its "humanitarian appeal for 2024 to aid eastern Chad is suffering from a severe funding shortfall, with only 10% of the required $214.8 million secured so far." It indicated that it "urgently needs $80 million to meet the immediate needs of refugees, with plans to build three additional sites equipped with basic services and infrastructure to accommodate 150,000 new arrivals."
For its part, the International Organization for Migration stated on Tuesday that more than 10 million people have been displaced inside and outside Sudan since April 15, 2023.
