Chad is facing one of the most complex humanitarian crises worldwide, with more than 875,000 Sudanese refugees and 308,000 returnees now inside its borders. Women and children make up nearly 87 per cent of this displaced population, placing extreme strain on already fragile health and social systems. The situation has been compounded by devastating floods, food insecurity, and the country’s most severe recorded lean season. In July 2025, a cholera outbreak was declared in Ouaddaï province, with 264 suspected cases and 12 deaths reported, disproportionately affecting women and girls, who bear both caregiving roles and frontline health responsibilities.
UNFPA is scaling up its response to address the overlapping crises of displacement, food insecurity, and epidemic outbreak. In July alone, 138 humanitarian midwives provided sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to more than 46,000 people, 95 per cent of them women. Over 20,000 people were reached with gender-based violence (GBV) awareness and response interventions, including the distribution of dignity kits and the establishment of safe spaces for women and girls. Youth networks also mobilized across schools and refugee camps, reaching more than 185,000 young people with information on reproductive health, family planning, and GBV prevention.
Despite these lifesaving interventions, the funding outlook is dire. UNFPA requires US$27 million to sustain its humanitarian operations in Chad in 2025 but has so far received just US$2.5 million. This leaves a critical funding gap of US$25.2 million — over 93 per cent of the total appeal unmet. Without urgent donor support, the ability to maintain essential SRH and GBV services for women and girls, including maternal health care, family planning, and protection, will be severely compromised.
