Eastern Chad Crisis: Cost of Inaction. April 2026

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Since the beginning of the conflict in Sudan in April 2023, and as of end March 2026, over 918,761 refugees and 389,755 estimated returnees – including over 829,375 children – have fled conflict and atrocities in Sudan to find refuge in Eastern Chad.

In a region already struggling to host an existing population of 400,000 Sudanese refugees living in camps since the 2003 Darfur war, these new arrivals face desperate conditions with limited international support.
The host provinces – Ouaddaï, Sila, Ennedi Est, and Wadi Fira - are among the most deprived provinces of Chad, and the recent influx of refugees has further strained already limited resources and services. The UNHCR and the Government of Chad expect the number of refugee population to reach 1.48 million by December 2026. Children are bearing the brunt of the Sudan spillover emergency in Chad with their rights to survival, education, and protection under severe threat.

Urgent action is needed to prevent the crisis from escalating into a deepening humanitarian catastrophe for children and their families.