UN: Sudan Conflict Drives Over 55,000 Refugees into Eastern Chad This Year
The United Nations reported that more than 55,000 Sudanese refugees have crossed into eastern Chad since January 2026 due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The influx is accelerating, with over 400 people crossing daily recently, while humanitarian aid remains critically underfunded.
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More than 55,000 Sudanese refugees have fled to eastern Chad since the start of 2026, the United Nations announced on September 25. This displacement surge is driven by the ongoing war between Sudan’s regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that began in April 2023.
Mamadou Dian Balde, the UN regional refugee coordinator for Sudan, highlighted that arrivals have accelerated sharply in recent weeks, with over 400 refugees crossing daily at border areas like Adre and Tine—about 20 times the previous rate. The conflict, particularly severe in Darfur, Kordofan, and Blue Nile states, includes airstrikes and drone attacks, forcing more families to seek safety across the border.
The UNHCR reports nearly one million Sudanese refugees in Chad, with over 190,000 living in difficult conditions near the border. Many refugees survive on less than half the daily minimum water requirement, and transit centers such as Tine are overwhelmed, hosting thousands amid urgent needs for shelter, water, sanitation, and protection services.
Despite the growing crisis, humanitarian funding is insufficient. UNHCR has received only 18% of the $1.6 billion requested in 2026 to support refugees linked to the Sudan conflict. Balde warned that inadequate aid risks pushing refugees to move onward in search of safety and legal status, including towards Europe and other regions.