Sudanese women and girls who fled the brutal war in Sudan report being forced into sexual exploitation in Chad to access essential assistance and resources. These acts are considered criminal in Chad but persist due to desperation and inadequate support in refugee camps.
One 27-year-old mother in Adre camp recounted being coerced into sex by an aid worker for money, resulting in the birth of her fifth child. “The food they gave us was not enough, so I slept with a man,” she said, cradling her infant.
Another refugee, a 19-year-old who witnessed the killing of her family before fleeing, admitted turning to sex work to support her household. “Living conditions were difficult, so I went to work in the sex trade… Now I regret what happened,” she shared.
Although Chad’s authorities, like regional official Ali Mahamat Sebey, denied the accusations against security personnel, aid groups acknowledge the dire conditions pushing women toward “survival sex.”
The UN Refugee Agency provides measures such as safe spaces, hotlines, and anonymous feedback boxes, but many women are unaware of these resources or fear drawing attention by using them. Supporting the predominantly female Sudanese refugee population remains a challenge amid rising displacement.
