The first week of October saw nearly 25,000 people fleeing Sudan for Chad, marking the largest weekly refugee surge this year, according to the United Nations.
The cumulative number of Sudanese refugees since conflict broke out 18 months ago has now approached 3 million, said U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, emphasizing that this recent wave exceeds all of September’s arrivals combined.
Chad is currently hosting over 600,000 Sudanese refugees, the highest number globally, with additional refugees seeking safety in neighboring nations like the Central African Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan, and Uganda.
Meanwhile, within Sudan, around 40,000 people have been displaced in October alone, raising the total of internally displaced persons to 8.2 million, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Many families arriving in Chad are enduring severe exhaustion, having trekked for days through conflict zones, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR reported. Overburdened health facilities and limited funding are hampering aid efforts, with only 27% of the $1.5 billion requested in UNHCR’s regional appeal currently funded.
In addition to conflict, Sudan is grappling with a cholera outbreak, with over 24,000 cases and 700 deaths recorded since mid-July. The U.N. is collaborating with Sudanese authorities to boost the response, including vaccination campaigns.
Humanitarian agencies are urging an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted access to deliver aid as the rainy season ends, presenting a critical window for relief efforts.
