New York – March 30, 2026 – The war in Sudan continues to drive a massive influx of refugees and returnees into eastern Chad, causing widespread suffering and forced displacement. More than 918,000 people have found refuge in Chad as of 23 March, bringing the total number of displaced people in the country to close to 2.2 million, a staggering 87% of them women and children.
Health systems at breaking point
With Chad already facing one of the world's highest maternal mortality rates, with 860 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, the crisis has pushed already fragile maternal health care systems to a breaking point. There are currently 68,880 pregnant women among the displaced population, with over 91,840 births expected in the next 12 months. Without quality obstetric care, the survival of mothers and newborns is under immediate threat.
"Childbirth does not wait for conflicts to end. To prevent a mounting catastrophe, we are calling on donors to urgently bridge the financing gap to ensure that every woman in Eastern Chad can give birth safely and that every survivor of violence based on gender receives the specialized, compassionate care they need to heal and rebuild," said Ms. Yewande Odia, UNFPA Resident Representative in Chad.
Protection under threat
Many women and girls fleeing Sudan experienced high levels of sexual abuse and assault only to find high rates of abuse in Chad’s temporary settlement sites, as overcrowded camps lack privacy, are poorly lit, and have inadequate protection services. Other forms of violence, including forced child marriage are also on the rise as families turn to negative coping mechanisms to survive.
UNFPA runs safe spaces for women and girls to provide integrated protection and health care to survivors of violence, but funding cuts in 2025 forced UNFPA to close 16 of these spaces just when they were most needed. As humanitarian needs soar, UNFPA is now urgently scaling-up its response efforts in eastern Chad, deploying humanitarian midwives and personnel trained to deal with gender-based violence, and delivering life-saving supplies. UNFPA’s response includes:
- Midwives and social workers: 78 midwives and 33 social workers specializing in gender-based violence (GBV) to support health and protection facilities and mobile teams.
- Temporary Health Clinics: UNFPA has set up 15 temporary health clinics and rehabilitated 10 health facilities to provide emergency obstetric services.
- Safe Spaces: Re-opening shuttered Safe Spaces for Women and Girls in nine locations to provide case management, counselling and legal services to survivors..
To support this scale-up, UNFPA is launching an urgent appeal for US$18.7 million to sustain vital services in the provinces of Ennedi Est, Wadi Fira, Ouaddaï, and Sila. In 2025, UNFPA has so far raised only 11% of the funding required to support women and girls. To donate directly go to: https://www.unfpa.org/donate/helpchad
Without immediate support, the health, safety and dignity of millions of women and girls remain at risk.
About UNFPA
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, working to uphold the rights and choices of women, girls and young people across more than 150 countries and territories. It reaches millions of women, girls and young people with essential health services, protection from violence, and vital information about their bodies and rights. It also helps governments plan for changing demographics, to build inclusive and resilient societies
For media queries please contact:
- New York, Media Team: Media@unfpa.org
- Dakar, Siaka Traore, UNFPA Regional Communications Advisor, traore@unfpa.org
- N’djamena, Joel Kakitsha, UNFPA Chad Humanitarian Coordinator, Kakitsha@unfpa.org
