Chad’s border towns overwhelmed by influx of Sudanese refugees

Hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees have poured into eastern Chad since Sudan's civil war erupted in April 2023, creating a mounting humanitarian crisis as overcrowded camps struggle to provide basic necessities amid severe cuts to international aid.

AP News reports that the camps of Adre and the newly established Tine, designed as temporary shelters, have become settlements where resources are stretched to their breaking point.

Adre, once a town of about 40,000 residents, now hosts nearly a quarter-million Sudanese refugees. Shelters are makeshift, often constructed from straw or scrap materials, with many refugees sleeping on bare ground.

Water scarcity has also become a critical issue, with local prices quadrupling due to increased demand. Limited water points have led to tension and occasional violence, further straining fragile relations between refugees and the host community.

Food aid, once a lifeline for many, is now hard to come by. The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has warned that funding cuts, largely driven by reduced U.S. contributions, will force significant reductions in rations and staff.

The situation in Tine, a newer transit camp receiving thousands from the Darfur region, is even more dire. Here, more than 46,000 refugees are exposed to the open desert, relying on minimal food distributions from community kitchens.

Overcrowding and the harsh environment compound their vulnerability, and reports of violence and trauma among arrivals highlight the desperation of those fleeing ongoing conflict.

Chadian authorities and UN agencies have urged refugees to relocate to more established camps to ease overcrowding in Adre, citing security concerns and increasing crime.

Yet many refugees choose to remain in transit camps close to the Sudanese border, drawn by economic opportunities and proximity to their homeland.

This reluctance to move, combined with strained resources, has heightened tensions with local populations competing for limited water and food.

"People must move," said Benoit Kayembe Mukendi, the UN refugee agency's local representative.

"For security reasons and for their protection."

Additionally, only 13 per cent of the requested funds to support refugees in Chad have been received this year, with the U.S. aid budget dropping from $39.3 million (Sh5.1 billion) in 2024 to just $6.8 million (Sh878.9 million) so far this year.

As a result, refugees face growing hunger and malnutrition, with many forced to seek work or run informal businesses to survive.

With international aid dwindling and refugee numbers rising, the situation in eastern Chad risks spiralling into a deeper humanitarian disaster, threatening both the displaced populations and the stability of already impoverished host communities.