Introduction
The suffering of the Sudanese refugees in Chad can be described as a painful and urgent humanitarian issue that needs to be addressed. Sudanese refugees continue to seek asylum in the Chadian territory because of ongoing civil strife, political violence, and poor economic conditions in Sudan. Sudan is a North African nation that has faced political instability and conflict for many years. For instance, the Darfur region has been most affected by violence, with the citizens being forced to flee their homes and live in appalling conditions.
The Sudanese government’s actions against rebels and the subsequent acts of war have caused many people, including families, to flee to Chad. Chad is a landlocked country in Central Africa that has a long and open border with Sudan. Therefore, it is one of the most preferred destinations for Sudanese refugees who are in search of protection. The current refugee crisis has put a lot of pressure on Chadian resources and abilities, as well as negatively impacting the lives of the refugees and the people hosting them.
Conditions in the Camps
There are approximately 17 camps in Chad that accommodate nearly 300,000 refugees, where women and children are the most affected. The camps are established in eastern Chad’s three provinces of Ouadda, Sila, and Wadi-Fira. An increasing population of refugees has put a lot of pressure on the humanitarian response in the region. The planning figure for the humanitarian response was expected to rise quickly and reach 250,000 persons by the end of 2023.
Some of the camps, for example, the Goz Amer and Djabal camps in the eastern region, severely lack space and essential items such as shelter, food, clean water, and health care for the refugees. The generally inadequate provision of these camps with basic necessities and other facilities has led to the provision of poor standards of living for the refugees.
The creation of more camps is very necessary to house the ever-increasing population of refugees. The refugees, who entered these camps between 2003/2004, have been experiencing a condition of prolonged refugeeism without any recorded cases of voluntary repatriation. The camps where women and children especially make up a significant portion of the population are struggling to deal with issues including education, employment, and service access. The groups including women and children become most vulnerable to gender violence, abuse, and poor health services. They are forced to live in fragile and worsening shelters while the absence of economic development means a lack of jobs to support their livelihood.
Sudanese refugees in Chad represent a very desperate, suffering, deprived, and vulnerable population, and thus what is happening to them is a humanitarian disaster in the extreme. The displacement of people due to conflict-related factors has stretched the ability of the Chadian government as well as other humanitarian organizations to offer adequate support to the affected populace. The extended nature of the crisis has compounded the refugees’ humanitarian requirements and created a hopeless aura among the displaced persons.
The poor living standards in refugee camps have also been an indication of other illegal incidents and exploitation. This situation, unfortunately, has not been accompanied by any professional humanitarian aid or accountability in camps. Potential hazards include violence towards volunteers and employees, criminal exploitation, and human trafficking. This operation of the informal camps voluntarily has resulted in the general inability to manage the complexity of the camps, adding to the suffering of the refugees. Likewise, besides the humanitarian aspect, as the burden has been shifted on the local communities, there have been reports of social problems and social crimes due to the stress and hardship of the situation.
The Need for Change
The already existing humanitarian crisis is also stretching the resources of the communities in Chad. Thus, immigration has put considerable pressure on the few available resources and facilities available to meet the basic living and work needs of the refugees. The emergence of tension coupled with other existing problems that the host communities are grappling with, emphasizes the need to find an amicable solution to the conflict.
There are various factors that can be held responsible for the insufficient action taken by international actors including international organizations to help address the problems faced by Sudanese refugees in Chad. First, the scale of this crisis means that the possibilities and potential of the international organizations and donor countries can be exhausted more quickly, and thus fail to provide the refugees and the host communities with adequate and continuous support. This poses a risk of diverting competing concerns and assistance to other parts of the world, thereby leaving the Sudanese refugee problem in Chad understaffed and with fewer resources.
Moreover, current and foreign policies, diplomacy, and governance entail the ability to select some types of crises over others, sometimes depending on the nature and affiliations of international organizations. It implies that the present calamity with Sudanese refugees in Chad will not be given the requisite limelight and assistance by the inter-governmental agencies and organizations involved since the geographical area involved does not hold any strategic importance for the primary players in the international system.
In addition, conflict dynamics in Sudan and concerns about the cause of displacement may discourage other agents in the international income to participate in proactive actions that can urge the end of displacement. Hence the problem of the Sudanese refugees in Chad presents more of a challenge that needs to be solved by the international community, the Chadian government, and humanitarian organizations. Refugees’ lives and their rights should be protected to prevent vulnerability suffered by refugees. It also requires efforts to identify the causes of internal displacement and work towards finding a more permanent solution to the issue.
Conclusion
The situation and condition of Sudanese refugees in the refugee camps in Chad represent a severe humanitarian crisis that demands urgent attention and action. The challenges faced by the refugees, the strain on the host communities, and the protracted nature of the crisis underscore the need for sustained and multi-faceted interventions to address the plight of the displaced population. By prioritizing the protection and well-being of the refugees, addressing the specific needs of vulnerable groups, and supporting the host communities, it is possible to make a meaningful impact and work towards sustainable solutions to the crisis.
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Tayyaba Rehan is a student at the National Defence University. She is currently pursuing her degree in defense and strategic studies. She has worked with multiple governmental and non-governmental organizations. Her articles have been published in national as well as international publications.