Ankara: The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, sounded the alarm Tuesday over a sharp rise in Sudanese refugees fleeing into eastern Chad, with nearly 20,000 people -- mostly "exhausted and traumatized women and children" -- arriving in the past two weeks alone.
According to Anadolu Agency, Magatte Guisse, UNHCR's representative in Chad, reported during a UN briefing in Geneva that the largest influx has been at the Tine border crossing in Wadi Fira Province, where almost 6,000 people arrived within just two days. "Since April 21, over 14,000 individuals have been counted in Wadi Fira," she noted, emphasizing the increasing violence in Sudan's North Darfur region, particularly around El Fasher.
Refugees have shared distressing stories of violence, including incidents of killings, sexual assaults, and the burning of homes. Many also experienced robbery and extortion during their escape. "Most arrived in Chad with nothing, no food, money, or identification," Guisse stated.
According to the UNHCR's rapid protection assessment, 76% of the newly arrived refugees have suffered serious protection incidents. Protection teams at the border have identified growing numbers of individuals with specific needs, including 752 at-risk children, 22 of whom were injured in the conflict. The group also includes unaccompanied children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and elderly survivors.
Local communities and authorities are grappling with the situation as Chad already hosts 1.3 million refugees, including 794,000 Sudanese arrivals since the conflict began more than two years ago. "While the country continues to show remarkable solidarity in hosting refugees, it cannot bear this burden alone," Guisse emphasized.
Since late April, UNHCR has relocated almost 1,850 refugees to safer sites and is providing life-saving aid despite significant funding gaps. "Of the $409 million required to respond to the refugee crisis in Chad in 2025, only 20% has been funded," Guisse warned, calling on the international community to increase their support.