A dire situation unfolds at a refugee camp in eastern Chad, overwhelmed by the influx of Sudanese fleeing civil war. Nadjala Mourraou’s son, Ahma, is among many suffering severe malnutrition. The Touloum camp, already overcrowded, struggles to provide for the growing number of refugees.
Mourraou, who escaped Nyala over a year ago, says a bowl of sorghum porridge is their only daily sustenance. This meager ration faces further threats as Sudan’s conflict drags on. The two-year war has displaced 13 million, with Chad hosting over 770,000 refugees.
The Touloum camp houses between 25,000 and 30,000 refugees in makeshift shelters. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders reports a surge in malnutrition cases. The Iriba district hospital, overwhelmed, recorded its first infant death from malnutrition.
Nurse Hassan Patayamou anticipates a rise in admissions as temperatures soar. With no end to the conflict in sight, Chad fears the refugee count could reach one million. The UN seeks $409 million in aid, with only 14 percent received.
Djimbaye Kam-Ndoh, a governor, acknowledges Chad’s tradition of welcoming Sudanese refugees. He emphasizes the strain on resources, with the province’s population doubling. Humanitarian groups express concern over cuts in international aid.
Alexandre Le Cuziat of the World Food Programme highlights acute food insecurity affecting 25 million in Sudan. Medics brace for outbreaks of diseases like malaria and measles. Samuel Sileshi of Doctors Without Borders warns of devastating consequences, particularly for children.
