Introduction
Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world, marked by low development, very limited availability of basic social services, and exposure to climate and environmental hazards.
The humanitarian situation is complex, with significant needs. The country’s vulnerable population suffers mainly from the consequences of forced displacement, intercommunity violence, food and nutrition insecurity, floods, and droughts.
Since mid-April 2023, the consequences of the Sudan crisis have been affecting the east of the country. Chad has also a complex protracted crisis in the Lake Province and an acute food and nutrition crisis in the Sahel (Barh El Gazel and Kanem).
EU humanitarian aid provides, among others, protection and multi-sectoral assistance to forcibly displaced people, life-saving treatment for undernourished children, food assistance and environmental risks reduction.
What are the needs?
Chad faces interlinked natural and manmade humanitarian crises.
Some 6 million people require humanitarian assistance in 2024.
Before the start of the new Sudan crisis, Chad was already hosting one of the largest numbers of refugees in West and Central Africa. With 770,000 new arrivals in the East, the forcedly displaced population in the country has now exceeded 1.6 million people, of which more than 1 million are Sudanese refugees.
1.7 million children under 5 years old suffer from acute malnutrition in 2024, 523,000 of whom classified as having severe acute malnutrition, the most serious form of undernourishment in children.
In the 2024 lean season, Chad is seeing a worrisome increase in acute food insecurity caseload of 170% compared to the 2018-2023 average during the same season. Almost 3,800,000 people are projected to require emergency food assistance (IPC Phase 3+) in the period between June and August 2024. Among them, 420,000 are refugees and returnees in the East of Chad.
Violence and conflict in neighbouring countries have resulted in an increased influx of refugees and asylum seekers. Lack of resources and infrastructure means that the capacity to support displaced people is limited.
Since 2015, the Lake Chad Basin has been targeted by attacks by non-state armed groups, leading to significant internal and cross-border population displacements. In addition, there are internal intercommunity conflicts over access to natural resources.
In the East of Chad, the crisis is considered a long- lasting crisis, with people arriving continuously stranded and without any resources, this put a further stress on the extremely poor population creating a high risk of further degradation. A total of 573,000 refugees are settled in, 260,000 of which are relocated in various camps further from the border (each camp with a population ranging from 40,000 to 50,000).
A sixth camp, Dougui, is scheduled to open in May to allow the relocation of part of the 180,000 refugees still stranded in the Adre border town. Additional sites are needed to accommodate refugees who are still arriving at the border. The influx of refugees has put the existing health infrastructure under severe strain, hence the urgent need for enhanced medical and humanitarian assistance.
How are we helping?
The EU is one of the main humanitarian aid donors to Chad. So far in 2024, the EU has increased its funding to over €55.8 million in humanitarian assistance to help the most vulnerable in the country.
Sudan crisis
Since the start of Sudan crisis, the EU has dedicated approximately €65 million to help respond to this emergency.
To strengthen its response, the EU has also mobilised its European Humanitarian Response Capacity (EHRC) resources.
- On 31 May 2023, the EU launched a Humanitarian Air Bridge (EUHAB) to Chad, delivering over 450 tons of essential supplies to partners assisting displaced people from Sudan (there have been 5 flights in total).
- The EU temporarily deployed a helicopter, in partnership with the UN Humanitarian Air Service in Eastern Chad, to access hard-to-reach areas during the rainy season (EU HAF).
- In collaboration with local authorities, the EU rehabilitated an airstrip in the town of Adré.
In partnership with HI/Atlas Logistique, the EU created a logistics hub in Adré to allow the storage and shipment of humanitarian supplies.
In May 2024, the EU allocated €1 million to support a new EU Humanitarian Air Bridge operation in Eastern Chad.
In response to this year’s spike of Hepatitis E cases, spreading into a high-risk health environment due the extremely precarious living conditions of the people who are refugees in the overcrowded camps and host populations in villages, the EU has also allocated €800,000 from the Epidemics Tool, an instrument to assist in sudden-onset crises created to provide rapid funding in case of a disease outbreak, The funding addresses activities to reduce contamination risks, immediate medical response and the improvement of WASH response.
Responding to the humanitarian needs
EU humanitarian funding allocated to respond to the refugee crisis has been used to address the most urgent needs of the refugee populations arriving in extremely precarious situations, most of whom are women and children, as well as those of the host populations, to increase their resilience and to fund activities to promote peaceful coexistence between communities and connect development, humanitarian, and peace actions.
EU humanitarian assistance has also continued to address the humanitarian needs triggered by the conflict in the Lake Chad region.
We have provided (i) food and nutrition assistance, (ii) protection to communities in need, (iii) water, sanitation, and hygiene services, (iv) health care, (v) shelters, (vi) education, and multisectoral Rapid Response (RRM).
In response to the food and nutrition crisis, the EU has funded assistance such as cash transfers, vouchers, food rations for families, ready-to-use therapeutic food, and essential medicines to treat severely malnourished children.
Anytime needed, the EU responds swiftly to new crises while supporting disaster risk reduction so that people are less vulnerable to future crises.
The EU also finances the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) in Chad. These flights help aid organisations reach people in need in remote or hard-to-reach areas.
Last updated: 28/05/2024
Facts & figures
(The numbers relative to the influx of refugees and returnees are constantly evolving and subject to change).
6 million people need humanitarian assistance.
Over 1.6 million forcibly displaced people, including:
- Over 595 000 new Sudanese refugees (new arrivals currently increasing this figure due to the crisis) and over 400,000 refugees from the 2003 crisis.
- Over 134,000 refugees from CAR
- Close to 14,000 Cameroonian refugees
- Over 21,000 Nigerian refugees
- Close to 216,000 internally displaced people
- Close to 78,000 Chadian returnees from CAR
- Over 173,000 Chadian returnees from Sudan
- Close to 23,000 Chadian returnees from the Lake Chad province
EU humanitarian funding:
Over €55.8 million allocated in 2024
Over €56 million in 2023