UN Warns of Life-Threatening Aid Cuts for Sudanese Refugees in Chad

Sudan, April 9, 2026 - More than one million Sudanese refugees in Chad are facing severe reductions in essential humanitarian services as funding shortages threaten to disrupt food, water, shelter, and healthcare assistance, United Nations agencies warned on Thursday.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (World Food Programme) said they are confronting a combined funding gap of $428 million, which could force further cuts if not urgently addressed.

The crisis comes as the conflict in neighbouring Sudan approaches its third year, driving mass displacement across borders and placing heavy pressure on host communities in eastern Chad.

According to UNHCR, current resources are sufficient to support only a fraction of the refugee population, leaving large numbers without adequate shelter and basic services. In several camps, water supplies fall far below minimum humanitarian standards, while overcrowding has severely strained education and healthcare systems.

The WFP has already been forced to reduce food rations, with women and children among the most affected. Aid agencies also report that tens of thousands of refugees remain stranded near border areas due to insufficient funding for relocation to safer settlements inland.

Humanitarian officials warn that continued shortfalls could push vulnerable families into increasingly dangerous survival strategies, including reduced meals, unsafe living conditions, and heightened exposure to disease and insecurity.

Chad is now hosting one of the largest refugee populations in the region relative to its population size, with pressure especially acute in eastern provinces where refugees make up a significant share of local communities.

The UN agencies are calling for urgent international support to prevent further deterioration of conditions and to sustain life-saving assistance in the coming months.