Growing needs and an underfunded humanitarian response

One year after the start of the civil war in Sudan, Sudanese refugees continue to flee into eastern Chad. An estimated 571,815 people have crossed the border to escape fighting or hunger.

However in Chad, food insecurity is high and humanitarian aid is insufficient throughout the country. For Action contre la Faim, it is urgent to reinforce the humanitarian response throughout the country as the lean season approaches.

3.4 million people are currently in a critical situation of food insecurity in Chad. The number of severe acute malnutrition cases expected between October 2023 and September 2024 is close to 480,000 children. That’s around 15% more than last year. The host provinces of eastern Chad, notably Sila and Ouaddaï, are among the country’s most vulnerable areas, with poor access to basic services, and the arrival of refugees is drastically exacerbating needs.

“88% of refugees are women and children. In the Zabout camp alone, the rate of severe acute malnutrition in children under 5 is 1.9%. An alarming figure, given that the WHO emergency threshold is 2%. But Chad is experiencing a major humanitarian crisis throughout all its territory,” warns Henri-Noël Tatangang, Country Director for Action contre la Faim in Chad.

From May onwards, the humanitarian situation is likely to deteriorate even further. The arrival of the rainy season and the lean season will increase needs and, at the same time, make access to vulnerable populations much more complex throughout the country.

In addition, the end of a number of humanitarian partner activities, due to lack of funding, is likely to compromise part of the humanitarian response, particularly food distributions. To date, only 4.5% of the humanitarian response plan for the whole country has been financed.

“For Action contre la Faim, it is urgent that donors guarantee sustainable funding for the humanitarian response, and in particular for food distributions throughout Chad, in order to support the most vulnerable populations in all the country,” explains Henri-Noël Tatangang.

Action contre la Faim operates in Chad since 1981. The teams are working in N’Djamena and Logone Oriental, Bahr El Gazal, Lake, Kanem, Ouaddai and Sila provinces with projects in nutrition, health, mental health and psychosocial follow-up, water, hygiene, sanitation, food security and livelihoods. A total of 771,259 people have benefited from these programs across the country in 2023.