Over the past few weeks, thousands of Sudanese and Chadians have fled Darfur and arrived at the 32 entry points in eastern Chad. The crisis in Sudan has affected Chad the most, with 45.4% of refugees from Sudan settling in the country. These refugees are living in numerous formal and informal camps across 11 health districts in Ennedi East, Ouaddaï, Sila, and Wadi Fira provinces.
However, access to essential health services is being disrupted due to various factors such as difficult physical access, limited human resources, and the lack of funding for healthcare. This situation is further exacerbated by epidemics of dengue fever, measles, and hepatitis E that have affected many of these refugees.
In recent days, fresh fighting has been reported in Sudan’s Darfur region, which could lead to new arrivals at entry points such as Tiné and Birak in Wadi Fira province. With the rainy season approaching within three months’ time, there is concern that torrential rains (Ouadi) will make it difficult to move temporary waterways. This will also pose a challenge for health organizations such as WHO to provide a coordinated response to public health events that may occur during this period. As a result, pre-positioning of health kits including cholera kits will take place before the rains arrive in these areas.
The situation faced by these refugees is dire and requires urgent attention from international aid organizations and governments alike. It is crucial that appropriate measures are taken to address the root causes of this crisis while also ensuring that refugees have access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, healthcare and clean water.
Chad has been affected by the crisis in Sudan more than any other country with over 750000 refugees having converged on its borders since 2003. This influx has put a strain on already limited resources and put pressure on local communities who are struggling to accommodate these large numbers of people.
The situation continues to be complex with ongoing fighting leading to displacement even after years of conflict resolution efforts. It is clear that long-term solutions are needed for both Sudanese refugees residing within Chad’s borders as well as those still fleeing violence from their homeland.
With only a few months until the rainy season arrives; there is an urgent need for action from governments and aid organizations alike to ensure that these vulnerable populations have access
