Over 1 Million Sudanese Refugees in Chad Face Hunger Crisis

Food is running out. Water is scarce. And millions of Sudanese refugees are being left behind.

More than 1.3 million Sudanese refugees in Chad are now facing a worsening humanitarian emergency, as funding shortages force aid agencies to scale back life-saving support.

The crisis stems from the ongoing war in Sudan, where fighting between the army and paramilitary forces has driven millions from their homes since April 2023. Many who fled into Chad arrived with nothing—survivors of violence, displacement, and famine, particularly from Darfur.

Now, even basic relief is at risk.

The World Food Programme and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees warn they face a funding shortfall of more than $400 million, leaving them unable to meet growing needs. Without urgent support, further cuts to food, water, and shelter programs are expected in the coming months.

Aid workers describe an increasingly desperate situation. Many refugees are already receiving less than half the minimum daily water requirement. Food shortages are forcing families to skip meals, with surveys showing that roughly 70 percent of households have reduced food intake in recent weeks.

The strain extends beyond survival. Overcrowded schools—often with more than 100 children per teacher—highlight the collapse of basic services. Shelter remains limited, with aid agencies able to support only a fraction of those in need.

The funding crisis reflects a broader shift in global priorities. Western donors, including the United States, have reduced humanitarian spending in some areas while increasing defence budgets. Although Sudan and Chad remain on aid lists, current allocations fall far short of demand.

The result is a dangerous gap between need and response.

Humanitarian groups warn that without immediate funding, the consequences will be severe. Reduced aid risks pushing already vulnerable populations into extreme coping strategies—hunger, displacement, and instability that could spill beyond camp boundaries.

What is unfolding in Chad is not just a refugee crisis. It is a test of global commitment.

And for more than a million people who have already lost everything, the margin for delay is rapidly disappearing.