The number of Sudanese refugees fleeing war and famine has surpassed 600,000 in Chad, with the UN refugee agency warning of a “critical point” in the humanitarian crisis.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stated that the vast majority of refugees are women and children, with over 115,000 arriving in Chad since the beginning of 2 024.
The influx shows no signs of slowing down, with an average of 630 people crossing the border daily in May.
“The situation on the Chad-Sudan border is deteriorating rapidly,” the UNHCR said, with ongoing fighting in Darfur expected to displace even more people.
One-third of the new arrivals are currently living in harsh conditions at makeshift settlements along the border.
The UNHCR appealed for $80 million to build additional refugee camps with essential services to accommodate an anticipated influx of 150,000 refugees.
Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that over 10 million people have been displaced within Sudan and across its borders since the conflict began in April 2023.
The conflict arose from a power struggle between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan-controlled forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The ongoing clashes between the SAF and the RSF in Darfur further heighten concerns about a potential escalation.
The UN reports that nearly 16,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the conflict, creating a massive humanitarian crisis within Sudan.
The international community is facing increasing pressure to support Chad as it struggles to cope with the influx of refugees.
The conflict has killed nearly 16,000 people, displaced millions and caused a devastating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, according to UN figures.