Chad is grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis in its eastern regions, as the influx of Sudanese refugees continues to surge.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that over 763,000 Sudanese refugees have been registered, prompting Chadian authorities to launch urgent appeals for international assistance.
Since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, Chad has witnessed a massive influx of refugees. In 2024 alone, over 40,000 people have crossed the border, bringing the total number of registered Sudanese refugees to 763,620.
The situation is rapidly deteriorating, with 21,027 new arrivals recorded in February, representing a 30% increase compared to January. To alleviate pressure on overcrowded border areas, Chadian authorities have relocated over 3,600 refugees to better-equipped sites within two weeks and are intensifying awareness campaigns.
In response to the escalating crisis, Chad has launched the Humanitarian and Refugee Response Plans (RRP 2025), seeking $5.5 billion in urgent funding. This includes $701 million specifically for the refugee response. However, only 14% of the required $409.4 million for 2025 operations has been secured to date.
The revised relocation plan aims to accommodate up to 280,000 refugees in ten new sites. In addition to the refugee crisis, Chad is also dealing with 220,610 internally displaced persons and 317,279 spontaneous returnees, primarily in the Lac region.
UNHCR and its partner organizations are urgently calling for the rapid mobilization of resources to address the growing needs of the refugee population and prevent a further humanitarian catastrophe. They emphasize the critical need for increased international support to provide essential aid and services to those affected by the crisis.
CA/ac/Sf/fss/abj/APA