Sudan Conflict Drives New Wave of Refugees Into Chad as Conditions Worsen

Sudan Conflict Drives New Wave of Refugees Into Chad as Conditions Worsen
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Thousands of Sudanese civilians continue to cross into neighbouring Chad as the humanitarian situation deteriorates amid Sudan’s prolonged civil war, according to Al Jazeera. The United Nations estimates that more than 4.3 million Sudanese have fled to nearby countries since fighting erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Sudan now faces the world’s largest displacement crisis, with nearly 12 million people uprooted by violence and hunger. Large numbers of displaced families are waiting to enter eastern Chad in search of safety and food, despite the country itself struggling with severe shortages.

Chad hosts more than seven million people in need of humanitarian assistance, half of them children. In the border town of Tine, residents say rising demand has sharply increased food prices, leaving many unable to afford basic supplies. Traders attribute the inflation to the arrival of more than 10,000 Sudanese in recent weeks.

Recent arrivals include those fleeing RSF-led attacks around el-Fasher in Darfur, adding to the more than one million Sudanese already sheltering in Chad since the start of the war. Aid workers report intensifying competition for essentials such as food, shelter and water, raising concerns about potential tensions between refugees and host communities. Long queues at distribution points have become common, and local hospitals and schools are overwhelmed.

The UN refugee agency says that 57% of new arrivals are school-age children, yet there is no funding to build temporary classrooms or hire teachers. Relief organizations have begun relocating some refugees to other areas, but warn that humanitarian needs will escalate as the conflict continues.

In a separate development, the European Union imposed sanctions on RSF deputy leader Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo for alleged crimes in el-Fasher. The measures include a travel ban, asset freeze and restrictions on financial gains within the EU, which officials say signal growing international accountability efforts.