Refugees and aid organizations have raised concerns about the worsening conditions in crowded and poorly funded camps in Chad. The escalating violence and hunger crisis in Sudan have driven a large number of people across the border, with about 25,000 individuals, mostly women and children, entering eastern Chad in the first week of October, marking a record number for a single week in 2024. Chad, being one of the world’s poorest countries, currently hosts the highest number of Sudanese refugees globally, totaling 681,944.
The situation at the Farchana camp is particularly challenging, as refugees who were relocated there earlier this year from the Adré camp on the border have highlighted the difficult conditions. These new arrivals have joined Sudanese individuals who have resided in the camp since the Darfur genocide in the 2000s. Many refugees expressed despair over the conditions they are facing, prompting some to contemplate further migration to countries like Italy, other parts of Europe, southern Africa, and the Gulf, as stated by the UN.
Hatim Abdallah El-Fadil, appointed as the camp chief at Farchana, shared that some Sudanese refugees have resorted to begging in the town’s market to feed themselves. He emphasized the challenges faced by those who were transferred to Farchana, with many opting to return to Adré due to better work opportunities there. The lack of education is also a significant concern, with younger children receiving sporadic lessons from refugee teachers using smuggled books from Darfur. This situation risks creating a “lost generation” among teenagers who are not attending school.
The conflict in Sudan between the army and the paramilitary forces has resulted in war crimes, including targeting civilians and impeding humanitarian aid. The conflict has led to tens of thousands of deaths and left 26 million people grappling with severe food insecurity. The increasing number of arrivals in Chad reflects the deteriorating situation in Darfur, where the RSF controls most population centers, subjecting El Fasher to a prolonged siege.
Individuals like Hassan Ibrahim Yahiya, who was a businessman in Geneina before the war, now find themselves farming peanuts in Farchana after losing everything. Similarly, Essam Abdelrasoul, who fled to Adré from Geneina, is struggling to make ends meet while dreaming of reuniting with his family in Sudan’s White Nile state. The journey to be with his family involves various challenges, including financial constraints.
Despite the hardships faced by refugees in Chad, the threat of extreme violence in Sudan, particularly in Darfur, and the deepening hunger crisis continue to push more people to seek refuge in Chad. The UN-appointed experts have accused both sides in the war of using starvation tactics against millions of civilians, leaving a vast majority facing severe hunger. The severe funding gap for refugees in Chad has been a significant concern, with the UN’s appeal for support remaining largely underfunded.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) revealed that the funding for each person at the Farchana camp is insufficient, with only 50% of assistance provided in the form of beans and rice. The agency stressed the need for more funding to support the increasing number of people crossing into Chad due to the escalating conflict in Darfur. Mamadou Dian Balde, the UN’s Sudan regional refugee coordinator, warned that the flow of displaced people is not limited to Sudan and the neighboring countries but is also extending towards Europe, Italy, southern Africa, and Gulf countries.
Individuals like El-Tayeb Zakria, who previously served as an adviser in Sudan, are struggling to adapt to life as refugees in Chad. Zakria highlighted the lack of basic services at the Farchana camp, including the absence of a clinic or wells for water, making life there feel like a slow decline. As the situation continues to evolve, the need for international support and funding to assist refugees and address the humanitarian crisis remains critical.