Sudanese fleeing to Chad surges 20-fold as aid runs dry: UN
Only 18% of the $1.6 billion funding it needed this year had come in, UNHCR said.
A significant surge in Sudanese refugees fleeing to Chad has emerged, driven by conflict and dire conditions, according to the United Nations refugee agency. Over 400 individuals are crossing into eastern Chad daily, a 20-fold increase from previous months, UNHCR reported. The migrants are escaping the fighting in Sudan's Darfur, Kordofan, and Blue Nile regions, which have been ravaged by a three-year-old civil war involving the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Mamadou Dian Balde, UN Regional Refugee Coordinator for the Sudan Situation, described the harrowing experiences of those fleeing, citing aerial bombardments and drone attacks as the primary reasons. Despite the desperate need, only 18% of the required $1.6 billion in funding has been secured so far this year. This shortfall will exacerbate the situation, as it will limit the provision of food, relocation to safer areas, and shelter for the refugees, according to Dian Balde.
The UN agency warns of potential secondary impacts if the basic needs of Sudanese refugees in Chad are not met, noting that many eventually move towards Europe after repeated failed attempts to find safety. The civil war has displaced up to 14 million people in Sudan, destroyed crops, and crippled the economy, as per UN estimates.
Drought and other harsh conditions have also compelled people to migrate. Since the conflict began, nearly 1 million refugees have crossed into Chad, with over 55,000 arriving in the country this year, according to UNHCR data. Aid organizations, including UNHCR, are grappling with severe funding shortfalls after the administration of US President Donald Trump and other donor countries significantly reduced foreign assistance over the past year.
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