Hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the conflict in Sudan have sought refuge in Chad, where they are living in overcrowded camps, enduring harsh conditions in makeshift plastic shelters, and waiting desperately for medical care.
The refugee camps face severe shortages, including a lack of medical staff, sanitation facilities, and essential medicines. Only a few makeshift clinics are trying to provide care, but the continuous influx of new arrivals, as hundreds join the ranks of refugees every day, makes it challenging to meet the growing needs. These refugees are embarking on gruelling journeys on foot to escape the ongoing conflicts involving the military, paramilitary forces, and tribal combatants.
The new arrivals in Adre, Chad, may have found safety from gunfire, but they face other dangers, including torrential rains that are hitting camps already struggling with shortages of food and water, as reported by the aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
“Malaria cases have seen a significant rise with the start of Chad’s rainy season, and there is an elevated risk of contracting waterborne diseases like cholera,” cautioned MSF. Every day, they receive “up to 300 patients” who lie on beds placed directly on the sand near each other.
Chad is ranked the third least-developed country in the world by the United Nations. The country faces severe challenges in its healthcare system, particularly in remote regions like Adre.
The nation grapples with one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, and tragically, one out of every five children does not survive past the age of five.