In recent weeks, more than 750,000 Sudanese and Chadians have fled Darfur and converged on the 32 entry points in eastern Chad. Chad is the country most affected by the crisis in Sudan, with 44.8% of Sudanese refugees and thousands of new arrivals every week. These refugees live in a large number of formal and informal camps in 11 health districts in the provinces of Ennedi East, Ouaddaï, Sila and Wadi Fira.
The humanitarian situation in this region is already dire due to epidemics of dengue fever, measles, and hepatitis E. A total of 6,692 people have been injured and have been treated with the support of MSF-F, PUI, the ICRC, and an international emergency team deployed by the WHO. With new fighting reported in Sudan likely to lead to new arrivals at certain entry points such as Tiné and Birak in the province of Wadi Fira, this situation will only become more complex.
As if that wasn’t enough cause for concern, the rainy season is approaching in just three months’ time. The torrential rains that are making it difficult to move temporary waterways will make accessing certain sites even more challenging for aid organizations working on the ground. This means that the WHO may no longer be able to provide a coordinated health response to certain public health events that may occur during this time.