As the civil war in Sudan continues to escalate, intense violence and a burgeoning hunger crisis have resulted in a record number of refugees flooding into Chad. In just the first week of October 2024, approximately 25,000 individuals—predominantly women and children—crossed the border, marking the highest number of arrivals in a single week this year. Chad, already one of the world’s poorest nations, now hosts around 681,944 Sudanese refugees, the largest global figure.
The conditions in camps like Farchana are particularly dire, as reported by refugees who were relocated there from the Adré camp earlier this year. This influx has coincided with Sudanese nationals who have already endured years of hardship following the Darfur genocide in the 2000s.
In exclusive interviews at both camps, refugees shared their distress about the precarious conditions they face daily. Many are contemplating further migration to Italy, other European nations, southern Africa, or the Gulf States, as noted by the United Nations.
Hatim Abdallah El-Fadil, the camp chief appointed by fellow refugees, mentioned that some Sudanese individuals have resorted to begging in the town’s market just to survive. The 39-year-old father of four lamented the situation, saying, “Many of those transferred to Farchana returned to Adré because there were better job opportunities. Here, many have sold their belongings just to get by. I truly don’t know how they can continue to survive under these circumstances.”
Education has emerged as another critical issue. Young children have access to sporadic lessons thanks to refugee teachers using smuggled textbooks from Geneina in Darfur. However, many teenagers are at risk of becoming “a lost generation” due to a lack of schooling.
The conflict, which has persisted since April 2023, sees the Sudanese army clashing with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Both factions have been accused of committing war crimes, especially in targeting civilians and obstructing humanitarian aid. The aftermath of the conflict has been catastrophic, with tens of thousands dead and 26 million facing acute food insecurity. In some regions, famine has officially been declared, particularly in the Zamzam displacement camp.
Hassan Ibrahim Yahiya, a former businessman from Geneina, now grows peanuts behind his tent in Farchana, stating, “I’ve lost everything you can imagine. I am here without hope.” He poignantly reiterated the trauma of displacement, emphasizing the harsh realities of refugee life.
Meanwhile, Essam Abdelrasoul, who fled to Adré at the war’s onset, struggles to reunite with his family now living in Kosti. The ex-engineering company employee articulated his plight: “I just don’t have the money. My dream now is to escape and find work in any country so I can see my children.”
Despite the overwhelming challenges faced by refugees in Chad, it is the ongoing violence in Sudan—especially in Darfur—and the escalating hunger crisis that compel more individuals to seek refuge in Chad.
Experts from the United Nations have voiced concerns over the use of “starvation tactics” in the conflict, indicating that an alarming 97% of Sudan’s population is experiencing severe hunger. “Never in modern history have so many faced starvation and famine as in Sudan today,” the experts warned, urging the world to take immediate notice of this unfolding tragedy.
Efforts to provide aid remain critically underfunded, with a UN appeal for $1.5 billion only 27% fulfilled. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported that their budget for refugees in the Farchana camp allows for only half the necessary assistance per person, with basic food supplies being severely limited.
As the humanitarian situation worsens and funding continues to lag, Mamadou Dian Balde, the UN’s Sudan regional refugee coordinator, cautions that the displacement crisis may extend far beyond Chad and Sudan. “There are more and more individuals heading towards Italy, Europe, and southern Africa,” he noted.
In the face of these dire conditions, El-Tayeb Zakria, who once served as an adviser to the West Darfur state governor before his assassination, shared his grim reality in Farchana, stating, “Living here feels like a gradual death,” highlighting the urgent need for improved services and support for those enduring such incredible hardship.
