UN warns of impact Sudan's humanitarian crisis is having on Chad

With the civil war in Sudan in its third year, the humanitarian situation is worsening with more than 25 million people experiencing acute food insecurity.

As refugees continue to flood into neighbouring Chad, the UN Special Representative for Central Africa, Abdou Abarry, has raised the alarm over the deepening crisis.

“The international community’s inaction risks exacerbating the humanitarian situation, especially as the ongoing conflict in Sudan continues to result in an increasing number of refugees heading to Chad,” he said.

It estimates that some 1.2 million Sudanese have found shelter in the eastern part of Chad, mostly after fleeing intensifying violence in their country.

Speaking at the UN Security Council, Abarry said that under the UN system, Chad was trying to provide additional emergency humanitarian assistance and stabilisation programmes at several locations.

He also warned that tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda was a major security threat in Central Africa that could spill over into a regional crisis. 

Gilberto da Piedade Veríssimo, President of the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), agrees.

“But in addition to the security crisis, Central Africa is also facing a complex humanitarian crisis, which continues to worsen, with some 13 million people who had been forcibly displaced,” he said.

Da Piedade Veríssimo added that Central Africa was one of the regions of the world which has been most impacted by humanitarian crises.

The United States told the Security Council that stronger partnerships would lead to greater peace and stability in the region.

While Russia said reforms in the financial realm would redirect funds toward the development of countries’ economies and social systems.