The humanitarian situation in Chad continued to deteriorate in May, driven by the ongoing conflict in Sudan and compounding climate shocks. More than 8,600 new Sudanese refugees arrived in Wadi Fira province during the month, the majority of them women and children, fleeing intensified violence and attacks on displacement camps. These new arrivals brought the total number of forcibly displaced people in Chad to over two million. Across affected provinces, women and girls face severe protection risks, including family separation, sexual violence, and food insecurity, while access to services remains limited. Flooding in Lake Chad has cut off key areas in Fouli Department, and heavy rains in the South-Ouest have damaged health infrastructure, further compounding access challenges. The combined impact of conflict, displacement, and environmental pressures has significantly increased demand for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV) services.
UNFPA, together with its partners, continued to deliver life-saving SRH and GBV interventions across Eastern, Southern, and Lake Provinces. In May, 24 reproductive health kits were distributed to 73 service delivery points, supporting more than 27,000 clean and facility-based deliveries, and enabling treatment for over 400 individuals with sexually transmitted infections. UNFPA-deployed humanitarian midwives provided SRH services to more than 38,000 people, including antenatal care, deliveries, postnatal consultations, family planning, and emergency referrals. GBV prevention and response activities reached over 26,000 people through awareness sessions, case management, and safe spaces for women and girls. Youth-focused initiatives also engaged hundreds of students in life skills and reproductive health education. However, the recent termination of US funding has forced some partners to scale back essential SRH and GBV services, particularly in Ouaddai and Lake Chad provinces.
UNFPA requires $27 million to deliver critical SRH and GBV services in Chad in 2025. This includes $15.9 million under the Humanitarian Response Plan and $12.5 million through the Regional Refugee Response Plan. As of May, only $916,705 had been received, leaving a gap of more than $26 million. Without urgent and sustained support from donors, UNFPA will be unable to maintain essential services for women and girls, including maternal health care, safe deliveries, family planning, and support for GBV survivors.
