More than 55,000 Sudanese refugees flee to Chad as UN calls for funding

What Happened

More than 55,000 Sudanese refugees have fled to Chad this year, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR. The number arriving in eastern Chad via the border areas of Adre and Tine has risen to 400 people per day, about 20 times the daily rate of previous months. UNHCR said the arrivals have 'accelerated sharply' over the past week and are outpacing available support. The transit centre in Chad's Tine is under severe pressure, hosting more than 4,300 people, many in urgent need of shelter, water, sanitation and protection. About 31,000 families lack adequate shelter, and most refugees live on less than half the minimum daily water requirement. The UN said it has received only 20 percent of the $1.6bn needed for response efforts, leaving a shortfall of $1.28bn. UNHCR also warned that without additional help, more Sudanese refugees may attempt the journey to Europe, noting that more than 14,100 Sudanese refugees arrived on the continent last year, a 245 percent increase.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The influx into Chad reflects intensifying displacement from Sudan's civil war, now the world's largest displacement crisis with more than 11 million displaced. The sharp rise at Adre and Tine shows that border crossings are accelerating despite humanitarian constraints, and the severe funding gap — only 20 percent of the UN appeal met — risks destabilising eastern Chad and pushing more refugees toward Europe, where arrivals increased by 245 percent last year.

Watch For

Monitor whether the daily crossing rate of 400 people into Chad continues or increases, and whether additional donor funding closes the $1.28bn shortfall. Watch for UNHCR updates on conditions at the Tine transit centre and any new SAF or RSF offensives in Darfur that could push more civilians across the border. European arrival trends will also indicate whether the UN's warning about onward movement materialises.