The United Nations refugee agency has sounded the alarm over the escalating humanitarian crisis in eastern Chad, where the number of Sudanese refugees fleeing two years of brutal conflict has more than tripled.
Since fighting erupted in April 2023, over 844,000 Sudanese have crossed into Chad, pushing the total number of Sudanese refugees in the country to more than 1.2 million—up from 409,000 who had fled earlier waves of violence in Darfur between 2003 and 2023.
The latest surge began in late April 2025, following deadly clashes in North Darfur that killed over 300 civilians and displaced tens of thousands. In just over a month, more than 68,000 refugees have arrived in Chad’s Wadi Fira and Ennedi-Est provinces, with around 1,400 people crossing the border daily.
“People are fleeing under fire, passing through armed checkpoints, facing extortion, and navigating tight restrictions,” the UNHCR said, adding that newly-arrived refugees report widespread abuse.
UNHCR protection teams have interviewed nearly 7,000 new arrivals since late April. About 72% reported serious human rights violations, including physical and sexual violence, arbitrary detention, and forced recruitment. Sixty percent said they were separated from family members.
Children have been hit especially hard. Sixty-six percent of school-age children are now out of school, and 30 have arrived in Chad with serious injuries. Among them is Hawa, a seven-year-old girl who lost her family in the conflict and had to have her leg amputated after sustaining severe injuries.
Despite efforts by aid agencies and local authorities, the response remains severely underfunded. Only 14% of shelter needs are being met, and refugees are receiving just 5 liters of water per day—far below the international minimum standard of 15 to 20 liters.
Some 290,000 people remain stranded near the Chad-Sudan border, exposed to extreme weather and at risk of further violence.
UNHCR and its partners are urgently appealing for $553.7 million to provide life-saving support in Chad, including food, water, shelter, and protection services.
More than four million people have now fled Sudan since the conflict began, in what the UN describes as the world’s largest and fastest-growing displacement crisis. The agency warns that without a major funding boost, the situation will spiral further, jeopardizing regional and international stability.
“The crisis is not just a refugee emergency—it’s a collapse of safety, dignity, and childhood,” UNHCR said. “Without urgent global support, millions of lives hang in the balance.”
