Chad is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with a third of its 18 million people in need of food security and nutritional assistance, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Friday.
The situation is worsening due to a combination of factors, including climate change, insecurity, rising food and fuel prices, and the recent influx of 500,000 refugees from neighboring Sudan.
Heavy rains and flooding in the south of the country since March have further exacerbated the crisis. Meanwhile, the eastern region is struggling to cope with the influx of refugees, and continued attacks by non-state armed groups in the Lake Chad basin continue to displace local residents.
A United Nations-backed analysis estimates that 2.4 million people are currently food insecure in Chad, with 300,000 facing severe food insecurity. Without significant support, this number could soar to 3.3 million during the off-season.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths has allocated $15 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to address the underfunded crisis, part of February's increased allocation. However, the $1.1 billion Chad Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2024 remains severely underfunded, receiving only 6.6% of needed funding.
The United Nations is calling for urgent international assistance to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Chad and prevent further deterioration of food security and nutrition levels.