Despair in Chad as Sudanese flee war

Refugees and aid agencies have warned of deteriorating conditions in overcrowded and severely underfunded camps in Chad as intensifying violence and a hunger crisis in Sudan drive huge numbers across the border.

- Zeinab Mohammed Salih

About 25,000 people - the vast majority women and children - crossed into eastern Chad in the first week of October, a record number for a single week in 2024. Chad, one of the world's poorest countries, hosts 681,944 Sudanese refugees - the highest number globally.

Conditions are particularly difficult at the Farchana camp, say refugees who were moved there earlier this year from the Adré camp on the border. The new arrivals joined Sudanese people who have lived in the camp since the genocide in Darfur in the 2000s.

Refugees interviewed by the Guardian at both camps spoke of their despair about the conditions they faced. Many will move on towards Italy, other European countries, southern Africa and the Gulf, the UN has said.

Hatim Abdallah El-Fadil, who was appointed the Farchana camp chief by his fellow refugees, said some Sudanese people had resorted to begging in the town's market in order to eat. "Many people here have had to sell their possessions to make a living," he said. "I don't know how they can continue to survive like this."

A lack of education is also a significant concern. Younger children are receiving sporadic lessons from refugees who happen to be teachers. Teenagers not attending school were at risk of becoming "a lost generation", refugees told the Guardian.