UNHCR Chief Warns Sudan Crisis Is “Humanitarian Calamity” as Funding Gaps Threaten Refugee Survival in Chad

Since April 2023, more than 900,000 Sudanese refugees have crossed into eastern Chad, with new arrivals continuing daily.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, has issued a stark warning over the rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis caused by Sudan’s brutal war, calling for urgent international assistance, sustained protection, and long-term support to help refugees rebuild their lives with dignity.

Speaking during his first official overseas mission as UNHCR High Commissioner, Salih met Sudanese refugee families in eastern Chad who had fled violent fighting in Darfur just days earlier—many for the second or third time since the conflict began. Refugees described years of atrocities, including sexual violence, killings, and repeated displacement.

“What is unfolding in Sudan is a humanitarian calamity of overwhelming scale,” Salih said. “Chad’s decision to keep its borders open and protect refugees is an extraordinary act of solidarity. By offering safety, dignity and legal status, Chad is laying the foundations for refugees to rebuild their lives and contribute to society.”

World’s Largest Displacement Crisis Deepens

Since April 2023, more than 900,000 Sudanese refugees have crossed into eastern Chad, with new arrivals continuing daily. Sudan has now become the world’s largest displacement crisis, with 12 million people uprooted, including over 4.3 million refugees across the region.

Salih made a strong appeal to the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, stressing that peace remains the only durable solution for millions forced to flee.

Funding Shortfalls Put Lives at Risk

While UNHCR continues to support emergency operations in Chad, severe funding shortages are sharply limiting assistance. Refugee settlements remain overcrowded and under-resourced, with families struggling to access shelter, clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and education.

Water availability remains far below emergency standards, sanitation facilities are overstretched, and health risks are increasing. Trauma levels are high, yet mental health support reaches only a small proportion of those in need, while thousands of children remain out of school.

“People here are safe from immediate violence, but survival alone is not enough,” Salih said. “Due to lack of funding, assistance is nowhere near what is required. Chad cannot be expected to shoulder this responsibility alone—other countries must step up.”

From Emergency Response to Self-Reliance

During his visit, Salih highlighted programmes that support refugee self-reliance and host communities, underscoring the importance of moving beyond emergency aid.

In Iridimi, he met refugee learners gaining digital and language skills to improve access to education and employment. In Farchana, he visited joint refugee-host community market gardens, while in Abeche, he spoke with displaced Sudanese professionals—lawyers, doctors and teachers—now able to practise their professions in Chad.

“These opportunities are essential,” Salih said. “Refugees need access to education, work and livelihoods if they are to build a future.”

Chad’s Leadership Praised

Despite economic strain and environmental pressures, Chad continues to uphold international refugee protection at scale. Salih met with President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno in N’Djamena, reaffirming UNHCR’s commitment to working alongside the Government and paying tribute to host communities that have welcomed refugees.

He also reiterated UNHCR’s support for Chad’s Integrated Settlement Approach, which expands services for both refugees and host populations while promoting shared economic opportunities.

A Call for Global Solidarity

Reflecting on visits to Chad and Kenya, Salih emphasised that inclusive refugee policies can deliver lasting solutions—if backed by sustained international support.

“When refugees are protected and included, they can rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to the societies that host them,” he said. “This is the direction we must take—moving from perpetual crisis response toward dignity, inclusion, and solutions.”