Sudan Crisis Drives Nearly 20,000 Refugees Into Chad Amid Escalating Violence

Eastern Chad is witnessing a humanitarian emergency of unprecedented proportions as nearly 20,000 Sudanese refugees—most of them women and children—have crossed the border in just the past two weeks, fleeing a devastating surge in violence in Sudan’s North Darfur region. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has raised alarm over the scale, speed, and human toll of this mass displacement, urging the international community to mobilize immediate resources and solidarity.

A Surge in Refugees at the Tiné Border Crossing

The sharpest and most concentrated increase in refugee arrivals has been recorded at the Tiné border crossing in Wadi Fira Province, where almost 6,000 people arrived over just two days. Since April 21, over 14,000 individuals have entered Wadi Fira, including 12,000 in the past week alone. Nearby Ennedi Est Province has seen another 5,300 arrivals in the last fortnight, with 1,000 refugees arriving in a single day this past Sunday.

This sudden and massive influx stems from intensifying armed conflict and widespread attacks on civilians in North Darfur, especially around El Fasher. As violence deepens, refugees arriving in Chad report that thousands more remain stranded or en route, desperately seeking refuge.

Harrowing Accounts of Violence and Abuse

Testimonies from new arrivals paint a horrifying picture of the conditions they fled. Refugees report targeted attacks by armed groups on displacement camps like Zamzam and Abu Shouk and in El Fasher town itself. Many recount atrocities including the killing of men, sexual violence against women and girls, and the systematic destruction of homes.

In their escape, refugees faced additional trauma. Reports indicate that individuals, including children and elderly women, were injured or thrown from vehicles during chaotic escapes. Many were robbed or extorted at checkpoints, with no food, money, or identification left by the time they reached Chad.

According to a rapid protection assessment conducted by UNHCR and its partners, approximately 76 per cent of newly arrived refugees have been subjected to severe protection violations, such as sexual abuse, theft, and physical violence.

Vulnerable Populations in Dire Need

UNHCR protection teams at the borders have identified hundreds of individuals with specific needs: 752 at-risk children, including 22 injured in the conflict; a number of unaccompanied minors; pregnant and breastfeeding women; and elderly survivors of violence. Their needs are immediate and critical—ranging from emergency medical care to psychological support, food, and shelter.

Overstretched Capacity and Growing Needs

Chad is already hosting over 1.3 million refugees, including nearly 794,000 Sudanese who fled violence since the war erupted over two years ago. Despite the tireless efforts of local communities and authorities, the country’s capacity to absorb additional arrivals is now dangerously overstretched.

The refugee site in Iridimi, Wadi Fira Province, has so far received eight convoys relocating almost 1,850 newly arrived refugees. UNHCR and partners are working around the clock to deliver basic services such as water, health care, temporary shelter, and food distribution. Yet, these efforts remain vastly inadequate when measured against the rapidly growing scale of the crisis.

Humanitarian resources in Chad are dwindling, with critical shortages in funding, infrastructure, and personnel. The situation is particularly dire in terms of child protection, access to education, maternal care, and psychosocial support—vital services for traumatized survivors.

A Call for International Action and Funding

UNHCR has issued an urgent appeal to the global community, emphasizing that Chad cannot shoulder this burden alone. Of the $409 million needed in 2025 to support the refugee response in Chad, only 20 per cent has been funded. This stark funding gap threatens the lives and dignity of the most vulnerable and undermines the overall humanitarian response.

“Attacks on civilians must end,” UNHCR reiterated in a statement, “and safe passage must be ensured for those fleeing for their lives.” The agency is calling on international donors, governments, and humanitarian partners to step up their commitments and deliver both immediate relief and long-term support for the growing refugee population in Chad.

The situation along the Chad-Sudan border is a race against time, one that demands urgent intervention to prevent further loss of life and restore hope for those who have already endured unimaginable hardship.