Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Eastern Chad is hosting over 1.3 million refugees and returnees, primarily women and children fleeing conflict in Sudan, which is putting significant strain on an already fragile healthcare system, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
During visits to refugee camps such as Abéché, Adré, and Wadi Fira, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director Andrew Saberton observed clinics overwhelmed by rising demand for maternity services. In the Iridimi refugee camp, midwives manage up to 300 births monthly with minimal equipment and medicines, facing serious shortages of anesthesia and specialist support. Some women have reportedly undergone emergency cesarean sections without adequate pain relief.
The crisis has also increased protection risks for women and girls. Many must venture farther from camps to collect firewood, exposing them to harassment and gender-based violence. Despite these challenges, local women's centres funded by UNFPA provide psychosocial care, vocational training, and support for survivors of violence.
Wadi Fira province hosts over 333,000 refugees in about 81,000 households, with women and children making up more than 75% of the population. Refugees continue to arrive through multiple border points amid ongoing insecurity in Sudan.
Mr. Saberton warned that funding cuts are threatening lifesaving services in Chad. UNFPA faces a 44% reduction in funding this year, with only 2.5% of its 2026 humanitarian appeal for Chad financed so far. He called for international support to match Chad’s solidarity in hosting refugees.