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Since April 2023, Sudan has been plunged into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, has already displaced over 14 million people, including 9.58 million internally and 4.34 million across neighboring countries. Chad, located to the east of Sudan, finds itself on the frontline of this regional catastrophe.
Before this latest wave, Chad was already hosting 400,000 Sudanese refugees fleeing the violence in Darfur since 2003. Today, more than 770,000 additional refugees have arrived, 86% of whom are women and children. In addition, 274,000 Chadians have been repatriated from Sudan. Altogether, more than 1.1 million displaced people now live in Chad, placing enormous pressure on already fragile local infrastructure.
Children are the most vulnerable. Over 700,000 young refugees currently live in overcrowded camps, lacking schooling and adequate nutrition. Two out of three children are not attending school, and malnutrition affects many young people, compromising their health and development. Diseases spread rapidly: measles, cholera, and respiratory infections pose daily threats, exacerbated by limited access to clean water and healthcare.
Women also bear a heavy toll. Many report having experienced physical and sexual violence, intimidation, and extortion during their journey to Chad. In the camps, the lack of protective structures and appropriate healthcare services increases their vulnerability. Without specific support, these women and their children remain exposed to dire situations, with little prospect of safety or psychological support.
The eastern provinces of Chad — Ouaddaï, Sila, Wadi Fira, and Ennedi East — bear the brunt of this influx. In Adré, the main border town, over 280,000 refugees live in improvised camps, far exceeding the local population of about 40,000. Schools, hospitals, roads, and markets are overwhelmed.
Access to safe drinking water is a major challenge. Wells can reach depths of 120 meters, but the available water per person is often limited to 6–7.5 liters per day, far below the 15–20 liters recommended by the WHO. Pressure on firewood and grazing land generates tensions with local communities. Competition for food drives up prices and increases the risk of malnutrition, affecting both refugees and residents.
Reduced international funding amplifies the tragedy. UNHCR and its partners have had to suspend or limit essential services: healthcare, education, protection for women and children, and the construction of new camps farther from the border. Existing infrastructure is insufficient to meet the growing needs.
Every day, new families cross the border after dangerous journeys. They often face armed checkpoints, intimidation, extortion, and for many women, sexual violence. Humanitarian teams provide emergency assistance — food, water, shelter, medical care — but needs far exceed available resources.
The crisis also affects local populations. Food insecurity affects nearly 7 million Chadians, or 40% of the population. The massive influx of refugees increases poverty, pressure on natural resources, and intercommunity tensions.
Climate change — drought, rainfall variability, soil degradation — further aggravates the situation. Local communities see their livelihoods threatened, and overcrowded camps become potential flashpoints.This combination of humanitarian, economic, and environmental crises poses a threat to regional stability.
Chad is already one of the poorest countries in the world. Although the under-five mortality rate has been halved since 1992, it remains among the highest globally: 101 deaths per 1,000 live births. More than 1.5 million children suffer from stunted growth, and over 3 million are out of school.
The war in Sudan, combined with massive refugee flows and reduced international aid, places unprecedented pressure on Chad’s social and health systems. Without strengthened international support, the situation is likely to deteriorate rapidly, directly affecting children and women, as well as local communities and regional stability.
While global attention focuses on Ukraine or Gaza, Sudan and its regional repercussions remain largely ignored. This silence is not neutral: it transfers the burden to countries like Chad, which must shoulder responsibilities beyond its capacity.
Famine, malnutrition, disease, and violence continue to affect Sudanese refugee children and women, leaving lasting scars on an entire generation.The crisis in Chad is not merely a consequence of the Sudanese conflict; it reflects the failure of the international system to protect the most vulnerable populations. Women and children are on the frontline, and local communities also pay a heavy price.
The international community, particularly Europe, can no longer ignore the war in Sudan or its direct impact on neighboring countries, foremost among them Chad, forced to bear an increasing burden while resources — including those of UNHCR — are drastically reduced. Far from being a peripheral conflict, the Sudanese war occurs at the heart of a strategic hub connecting North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Sahel. With its borders touching Libya, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Chad, as well as access to the Red Sea, Sudan occupies a central position in regional dynamics. Any destabilization of this country automatically produces farreaching regional repercussions and beyond.
The international community, and Europe in particular, must now recognize the geopolitical significance of this conflict and act urgently. It is time to break the silence, acknowledge the gravity of the situation, and immediately strengthen international solidarity. Seeing, protecting, and supporting these populations is no longer an option; it is a moral, humanitarian, and regional obligation.
To prevent a humanitarian and security collapse, urgent international action is essential:
• Strengthen access to safe drinking water and sanitation infrastructure;
• Support health and education services, with particular focus on children and women;
• Develop protective structures for women and girls exposed to violence and abuse;
• Implement mechanisms to prevent intercommunity tensions and promote local dialogue;
• Maintain media and diplomatic visibility on the Sudanese crisis and its regional consequences.