struggling refugee women in Chad face violence and healthcare gaps

Chad is grappling with a mounting humanitarian crisis as over 1.3 million refugees and returnees—primarily women and children—squeeze into a nation already strained by widespread poverty and an underfunded healthcare system, warns a United Nations agency.

humanitarian crisis deepens in eastern Chad

Andrew Saberton, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) responsible for management, recently returned from a week-long assessment in eastern Chad. His findings paint a stark picture: the region is buckling under the weight of refugees fleeing conflict in neighboring Sudan, with women and girls bearing the brunt of the crisis.

In Adré, near the Sudanese border, he visited a UNFPA-supported center where refugee women shared harrowing accounts of violence and harassment they face when leaving camps to gather firewood. The simple act of collecting fuel has become a high-risk endeavor, fraught with threats of assault and sexual violence.

Despite these dangers, Saberton highlighted the remarkable resilience of women supported by UNFPA initiatives. These programs offer psychosocial support, vocational training, and income-generating activities, empowering women to rebuild their lives.

healthcare shortages exacerbate risks for women and girls

In Wadi Fira province, home to the Iridimi refugee camp, healthcare facilities are overwhelmed by the continuous influx of refugees. Local authorities report over 333,000 refugees spread across eight camps in the region.

The health center in Iridimi sees up to 300 deliveries per month with severely limited resources. Medical staff report frequent shortages of anesthetics, making safe caesarean sections nearly impossible in some cases.

Saberton condemned the situation, stating, “No woman should have to endure a caesarean section without anesthesia.”

The UN agency’s funding crisis compounds the problem. The UNFPA office in Chad faces a 44% reduction in resources compared to 2025. Of the $18.7 million requested for 2026 to sustain maternal health services and protection programs, only 2.5% has been secured to date.

Chad already has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with approximately 860 deaths per 100,000 live births. UNFPA is urgently appealing to the international community to bolster support to prevent further loss of life.

Saberton emphasized the critical need for aid: “For the women and girls we met in eastern Chad, assistance means safe childbirth, care after violence, and a chance to survive.”

a call for urgent international action

The situation in eastern Chad underscores the urgent need for increased humanitarian funding and support. Without immediate intervention, the most vulnerable—especially women and children—will continue to face life-threatening risks.