In a devastating blow to humanitarian efforts in central Africa, critical aid cuts are pushing Sudanese refugees in Chad toward a catastrophic health crisis, with malnutrition rates soaring and essential healthcare services collapsing.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been forced to suspend vital health programmes in Ouaddai province, leaving approximately 150,000 people without access to medical care. This comes as funding from major international donors, including the UK's Foreign Office, has dramatically decreased.
A Perfect Storm of Suffering
IRC's country director for Chad, Mireille Manga, describes the situation as "dire." The suspension of their comprehensive health package means refugees have lost access to crucial services including:
- Primary healthcare consultations
- Malnutrition treatment programmes
- Reproductive health services
- Child vaccination initiatives
"We are witnessing an unfolding humanitarian disaster," Manga stated. "The consequences of these cuts will be measured in lives lost."
Malnutrition Reaches Critical Levels
The timing couldn't be more devastating. Recent data reveals that global acute malnutrition rates among children under five have reached a staggering 13.4% in some refugee camps—far exceeding the emergency threshold of 15%.
At the Adré hospital near the Sudan border, medical staff report treating severely malnourished children daily. Many arrive with complications that could have been prevented with adequate nutrition and basic healthcare.
Funding Crisis Deepens
The humanitarian response in Chad was already severely underfunded before these latest cuts. The UN's response plan for Chad has received less than 40% of required funding, creating massive gaps in essential services.
Compounding the crisis, the World Food Programme has been forced to reduce food rations for refugees by 50%, pushing families toward starvation as they face the approaching lean season.
Regional Implications
This crisis extends beyond immediate health concerns. The instability threatens to destabilise the broader region, with potential consequences for:
- Regional security as desperation grows
- Cross-border tensions between Chad and Sudan
- Long-term development goals in central Africa
Humanitarian organisations are issuing urgent appeals to international donors, warning that without immediate funding reinstatement, the situation will deteriorate rapidly in the coming months.
