A growing wave of Chadian nationals fleeing Sudan’s civil war is placing increasing pressure on the remote border town of Adre, where aid agencies are struggling to meet rising humanitarian needs.
Under intense desert heat, families continue to arrive in makeshift horse-drawn carts after escaping a conflict that has displaced millions across the region.
Humanitarian organisations warn that the response is at risk of breaking down as severe funding shortfalls threaten to force the suspension of United Nations field operations.
More than 400,000 Chadian returnees have crossed back into Chad since the war began, significantly exceeding initial humanitarian forecasts.
Local authorities say they lack the resources needed to support the growing number of arrivals and have called for greater international assistance.
Although returnees face many of the same urgent needs as refugees, aid workers say they often receive less attention and support from the international community.
Transit centres such as Tongori camp are overcrowded, with thousands of displaced people reporting harsh living conditions and a sense of neglect.
Some returnees say they have gone for months without receiving food assistance while remaining stranded in camps with few opportunities to rebuild their lives.
Many women who returned from Sudan possess valuable professional skills but face limited prospects for employment or economic recovery.
UN officials warn that relying indefinitely on emergency relief is not a sustainable solution and stress the need for longer-term support programmes.
The International Organization for Migration says its response plan for eastern Chad is currently less than 20% funded.
Aid agencies warn that without an urgent increase in international funding, critical humanitarian assistance could come to a halt after October 2026.
