Geneva - The UNHCR has raised concerns about the increasing number of Sudanese refugees arriving in eastern Chad, with approximately 20,000 individuals, primarily women and children, seeking refuge in the past two weeks. This was announced at a UN briefing in Geneva on May 6, 2025.
Magatte Guisse, the UNHCR representative in Chad, reported that the largest influx occurred at the Tine border crossing in Wadi Fira Province, where almost 6,000 people arrived within two days. The surge is attributed to escalating violence in Sudan’s North Darfur region, particularly around El Fasher.
Many refugees arrive in Chad with nothing, lacking food, money, or identification. A UNHCR assessment indicates that 76% of new arrivals have experienced serious protection incidents. Chad, already hosting 1.3 million refugees, including 794,000 Sudanese since the conflict began in April 2023, struggles to cope with the increasing numbers. The UNHCR requires $409 million to address the refugee crisis in Chad in 2025, but only 20% of this amount has been funded.