After fleeing Sudan’s war, refugees battle thirst in Chad’s camps

Goudrane refugee camp in eastern Chad, sheltering approximately 50,000 Sudanese refugees, experienced a critical water shortage when supply trucks arrived only after tanks had remained empty for four days. The arrival of a single water truck carrying 6,000 litres prompted desperate crowds to rush toward the vehicle, with the entire supply depleted within minutes as families competed for jerrycans to sustain themselves.

Rokhia Ibrahim, a 43-year-old Sudanese schoolteacher now residing in the camps, described witnessing similar deprivation during her escape from el-Fasher. She recounted attacks by the Rapid Support Forces during her flight, during which her infant child was thrown to the ground and her husband was beaten until he lost his sight. She also recalled fighters deliberately pouring out the limited water her family possessed.

According to United Nations data, more than 938,000 Sudanese refugees have crossed into Chad since the conflict erupted in April 2023. The majority inhabit overcrowded settlements across Chad's eastern region, an arid area where many refugees receive less than half the minimum daily water allocation established by UNHCR humanitarian standards.

Medical personnel operating in the camps face compounded challenges, as healthcare providers lack the clean water necessary to administer treatment effectively despite having medicines available for infections and bacterial conditions. Thibault Henry, country director for the French humanitarian organization Solidarites International, stated that current funding levels remain insufficient to guarantee universal access to safe water across the camps, despite the organization's operational presence in Chad since 2008.