ADRE, Chad — Aziza Abrahim, a 23-year-old mother, has experienced a harrowing journey through Sudan as she fled from one village to another amidst widespread violence and death. However, it was not the violence itself or the death of her relatives that compelled her to escape the war-torn country; it was the unbearable hunger that finally pushed her out. “We don’t have anything to eat because of the war,” she remarked, while soothing her one-year-old daughter inside a sheet that now serves as their shelter days after crossing into Chad.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has resulted in extreme food shortages and famine, displacing countless individuals from their homes and farms. With market supplies dwindling and prices soaring, aid organizations are struggling to deliver assistance, as the warring factions obstruct access to vulnerable populations. Since the outbreak of hostilities in April 2023, approximately 24,000 people have lost their lives, and millions have been displaced amidst clashes between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces, a strong paramilitary group. Global experts confirmed the existence of famine in the Zamzam displacement camp in July and predict that this year could see over 25 million people—more than half of Sudan’s population—facing severe hunger.
Reports indicate tragic consequences of malnutrition among children in Chad, where aid groups like Doctors Without Borders, known as MSF, recorded seven deaths attributed to hunger-related complications within a single hospital from May to September. MSF also had to suspend care for 5,000 malnourished children in North Darfur for several weeks due to persistent obstructions and blockades. President Joe Biden has urged both combatant groups to ensure unrestricted access for humanitarian assistance and cease attacks on civilians.
Despite these appeals, violence has escalated, with over 2,600 fatalities reported across the country in October alone, marking it as the most violent month of the conflict. The fighting is particularly intense around El Fasher, North Darfur’s capital, which has been one of the regions most affected by the devastation of war. The International Criminal Court has suggested that the brutalities may comprise war crimes, crimes against humanity, or potential genocide.
Abrahim eventually escaped her home in West Darfur and spent over a year seeking refuge in neighboring locales with friends and relatives. Her husband had departed to seek work prior to the conflict and has remained unaccounted for since. She faced insurmountable difficulties in securing food for her and her daughter. After being forced to abandon farming, she travelled for hours to collect firewood to sell in Chad, using her meager earnings to purchase grain, but eventually ran out of wood and had to leave Sudan altogether.
Others making the trek to Chad have similarly reported soaring food prices and a lack of staple goods, with basic supplies in markets vanishing. Awatif Adam, who migrated to Chad in October, stated that her husband was struggling to earn a living driving a donkey cart, with farming becoming too dangerous. Her three children—twin six-year-olds and a three-year-old—were losing weight and constantly asking for food. Their persistent pleas compelled her to take the difficult step of fleeing.
As the number of people entering Chad rises, aid organizations face mounting challenges in providing necessary support. Since the beginning of the conflict, around 700,000 Sudanese have crossed into Chad, with many confined to overcrowded refugee camps or makeshift shelters along the border. Notably, the number of arrivals at the Adre border crossing surged from 6,100 to 14,800 between August and October, although it remains unclear if individuals are counted multiple times.
The World Food Program reported earlier this year that they had to half food rations in Chad due to funding shortages. While recent contributions have allowed them to restore full rations until the beginning of the following year, the continuous influx of refugees may overwhelm the system. “More people will lead to greater hunger if funding doesn’t keep up,” warned Ramazani Karabaye, the WFP’s operations head in Adre.
During a recent visit to Adre in October, many of those who fled Sudan reported ongoing struggles with food security. Khadiga Omer Adam conveyed her plight of insufficient assistance and financial resources to maintain a regular diet, which has severely affected her ability to breastfeed her malnourished daughter, Salma Issa. Giving birth alone during the early days of the conflict created a substantial struggle for her, and over a year later, she found herself in a hospital, unable to feed her child without medical intervention.
In August and September, the MSF clinic at the Aboutengue camp registered over 340 cases of severely malnourished children, and medical staff fear these numbers could rise. Health workers warn that the arid conditions in southern Chad, hampered by a lack of variety in food sources, complicate efforts to care for the influx. Dr. Oula Dramane Ouattara, leading MSF’s medical services in the camp, voiced grave concerns over the potential for worsening conditions. “If the situation continues like this, I fear it will spiral further out of control,” he expressed.