The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed alarm on Monday as the number of refugees in Chad, who have fled the fighting between the forces of the two rival generals in Sudan for over a month, is “increasing very quickly” and currently stands at around 90,000. This figure is an increase from the UN’s estimate of 76,000 three days prior. Raouf Mazou, the Assistant High Commissioner for UNHCR Operations, informed journalists in N’Djamena that they believe the number to be close to 90,000.
Since the conflict began on April 15, the UN has estimated the death toll to be a thousand, with over a million people internally displaced or seeking refuge. Mazou stated that more than 250,000 individuals have fled Sudan for neighbouring countries since the start of the war.
In Chad, the majority of refugees are concentrated in makeshift camps in the eastern region near the desert border. Mazou highlighted that “more than 90% are women and children” during the conclusion of his four-day visit to Chad. He expressed concerns about the upcoming rainy season, which will pose additional challenges in providing assistance to the refugees.
While commending Chad for its solidarity, the Assistant High Commissioner emphasized that Chad cannot address the crisis alone. Mazou called upon the international community to share the burden with Sudan’s neighbouring countries and provide urgent support.
On May 17, the United Nations and its partners launched a plea for $3 billion to aid millions of people in Sudan, including hundreds of thousands who have fled to neighbouring countries. This funding includes $470.4 million to support refugees, returnees, and host communities in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.