Addressing Chad's Struggle to Support Sudanese Refugees Through Global Aid
In the heart of Sudan, conflict has displaced millions, forcing families to leave behind their homes, dreams, and futures. The official date of the Sudanese refugee crisis is April 15, 2023, when chaos between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan broke out. More than 10 million Sudanese individuals have been forced out of their homes and the nation as a whole, unable to continue life in the corrupt, infectious land that their home has increasingly become. The refugee crisis has driven countless across the border into neighboring Chad, overwhelming the nation’s already exhausted resources as it attempts to provide safety and shelter for Sudanese refugees escaping violence and instability.
Chad, a country already battling its own socioeconomic challenges, has received the highest number of refugees, over 600,000. While the country can provide safety from immediate threats, it does not currently have the resources or government funding to provide for the care such a large number of refugees require. As of June, Chadinian authorities, with the help of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (the UNHCR), had “relocated 60 percent of refugees to established camps”, the UNHCR states. However, the organization has reported only receiving 10% of the required funding to address the humanitarian refugee crisis Chad currently faces. Common problems that host countries face when dealing with mass waves of refugees include adequate shelter options, accessibility to proper healthcare, and strains on the country’s economy.
Despite Chad’s strenuous efforts to support Sudanese refugees fleeing the conflict, the country cannot address this humanitarian crisis alone. And for the UNHCR to provide the required resources to address the crisis, it needs the money. The organization is primarily funded by donor governments, most notably the U.S., Germany, and the European Union. These donor governments, and not just these three alone, must increase funding for humanitarian efforts in Chad, ensuring access to basic necessities like food, clean water, medicine, and proper education. In addition, investments in infrastructure and economic development will help control the long-term impacts of the crisis and foster coexistence between refugees and Chadinians.
What will it take for the global community to take action, and how can we change the narrative of one of the most urgent humanitarian crises of our time? Now is the time for global spectators to act, to alleviate suffering and to reaffirm our shared commitment to humanity.