After fleeing Sudan’s war, refugees battle thirst in Chad’s camps

What Happened

In eastern Chad, Sudanese refugees who fled violence in Darfur are facing a dire water crisis, with some camps surviving on less than half the minimum daily supply recommended by UNHCR standards. At Goudrane camp, home to about 50,000 refugees, a single water truck delivering 6,000 litres attracted hundreds of desperate people, and the water was exhausted within 10 minutes. Refugees recounted how the same scarcity plagued their escape from Sudan. Rokhia Ibrahim, a schoolteacher from el-Fasher, said RSF fighters attacked her family during their flight, beating her husband until he lost his sight and throwing her baby to the ground. Zahra Khamis, a Masalit woman from el-Geneina, described surviving rape, drone attacks, and the shooting of her son on the road to Chad. The French aid group Solidarites International said current funding is insufficient to ensure safe water access for all, and the camp’s only doctor noted that medicine is ineffective without clean water. The UN reports over 938,000 Sudanese refugees have fled to Chad since April 2023.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The water crisis in Chad's refugee camps compounds the world's largest humanitarian and displacement emergency, with nearly one million Sudanese seeking shelter in an arid, under-resourced region. Severe shortages risk triggering disease outbreaks and worsening trauma among survivors of atrocities. The inability of aid agencies to meet basic needs highlights the funding shortfall and the international community's failure to address the conflict's spillover, potentially destabilizing eastern Chad and straining host communities.

Watch For

Monitor the forthcoming rainy season (typically June–September) which could further disrupt water supply and increase cholera risks in camps. Track UN and NGO funding appeals, especially as the IPC Famine Review Committee issues new assessments for Darfur. Watch for any cross‑border RSF activity near Adre and reports of new refugee surges if fighting in el-Fasher escalates.