More than 55,000 Sudanese refugees have fled into eastern Chad since the beginning of 2026, as continuing fighting and insecurity in Sudan force more people to leave their homes in search of safety.
The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, said the number of people crossing the border has increased sharply in recent days. More than 400 people are now arriving each day through the Adré and Tiné border areas, around 20 times the daily rate recorded in previous months.
The latest arrivals are mainly fleeing violence in Darfur, while fighting, airstrikes and drone attacks in Kordofan and Blue Nile states are also contributing to the new displacement.
The Sudan conflict began in April 2023 after fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The war has created one of the world’s largest displacement and humanitarian crises.
UN figures show that about 11.3 million people remain forcibly displaced as a result of the conflict. This includes approximately 6.4 million people displaced within Sudan, while more than 3.5 million have crossed international borders.
Chad has received one of the largest numbers of people escaping the Sudan conflict. Since the war began, nearly one million Sudanese refugees have crossed into Chad, adding significant pressure on communities and humanitarian organisations operating in the country’s eastern border areas.
Humanitarian support under pressure
The growing number of arrivals is happening at a time when humanitarian organisations are struggling with inadequate funding.
UNHCR said its regional refugee response requires about $1.6 billion, but only around 18 per cent of the required funding had been received as of the latest update.
The funding shortage is affecting the ability of aid organisations to provide food, water, shelter and other essential services. The UN said some refugees in Chad’s border areas are living in particularly difficult conditions, while relocation to safer areas has also been slow.
UN officials also reported that some refugees arriving from Sudan had described experiences of violence and abuse during their journeys. The UNHCR regional coordinator said the continuing reports of rape and other violence highlighted the protection challenges facing people fleeing the conflict.
Chad faces growing pressure
Chad has continued to keep its borders open to people escaping the Sudan war, while local communities and authorities have provided assistance despite their own economic and humanitarian challenges.
The UN said more than 150,000 refugees remain in difficult conditions in border areas and need to be relocated to safer locations. Access to sufficient food, water and shelter remains a major concern.
The latest surge in arrivals means Chad and humanitarian agencies will need additional resources to cope with the growing population of displaced people.
The UN has called for increased international support, warning that without additional humanitarian and development assistance, conditions for refugees and host communities could deteriorate further.
