Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A severe funding gap is threatening the lives of over one million Sudanese refugees in neighboring Chad, with humanitarian agencies warning that shortages of food and water could escalate unless $428 million in aid is urgently provided.
The World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said Thursday that existing resources are insufficient to meet the needs of all refugees, many of whom fled the conflict in Sudan that erupted in April 2023 between the army and Rapid Support Forces. Among the displaced are survivors of mass killings and famine in Darfur.
“With less than half the resources we need, we cannot deliver adequate food to those most in need,” said Sarah Gordon-Gibson, WFP’s Country Director in Chad. “This will force refugees to adopt extreme coping measures and put their lives at risk.”
The agencies warned that without immediate financial support, aid cuts could intensify in the coming months. Currently, the UNHCR can provide assistance to only four out of every ten refugees in Chad, leaving thousands without shelter and access to essential services. Overcrowding in classrooms has surged, with some exceeding 100 students per teacher.
Refugees in Chad’s Ennedi East region are reportedly surviving on less than half of the minimum daily water requirement. A recent survey cited by the Norwegian Refugee Council found that 70 percent of refugee households have reduced the number of daily meals in the past month, signaling a worsening hunger crisis.
The funding shortfall is partly attributed to reductions in international aid, including cuts from the United States and other Western donors, with some resources redirected toward defense spending. Despite Sudan and Chad being among the 17 countries slated to receive $2 billion in U.S. foreign aid in 2026, the immediate gap remains critical.
Humanitarian agencies are calling for urgent donor support to prevent further deterioration of living conditions and to sustain basic food, water, and shelter services for refugees fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
