Former Chadian Interior Minister Ibrahim Al-Usail has warned of grave dangers threatening the lives of thousands of Sudanese refugees in Chad.
In statements to “Sputnik,” Al-Usail said that weather conditions, diseases, and epidemics are endangering thousands, especially as temperatures exceed 50 degrees Celsius, while shelters and camps are severely overcrowded.
He explained that during his time in the ministry, he visited these camps and witnessed the humanitarian situation firsthand. The camps suffered from a severe lack of capacity to deal with the dangers of winter rains—which cause many diseases—and the extreme summer heat, which leads to deaths and various illnesses.
Al-Usail stressed that the resources Chad has mobilized since the start of the crisis are insufficient to meet the challenges faced by hundreds of thousands of Sudanese fleeing the conflict, especially given the lack of commitment from international institutions responsible for providing necessary aid.
The former minister warned that the summer season will bring even higher temperatures, increasing the risks, especially as thousands more Sudanese continue to arrive fleeing the war.
He emphasized that, with its limited capabilities, Chad cannot meet the essential needs of more than one and a half million refugees, whether in terms of food, medicine, or adequate shelter to avoid looming dangers and worsening health conditions.
Meanwhile, Chadian academic and analyst Ismail Mohamed Taher said that since last January, Chad has witnessed a massive influx of refugees, pushing the situation out of control.
In his comments to “Sputnik,” he noted that the Wadi Fira region in northeastern Chad alone has received nearly 40,000 refugees, especially after fierce fighting erupted in North Darfur between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.
He explained that this huge influx—tens of thousands—has overwhelmed the budgets of both the state and international organizations working with refugees, leading to dire consequences such as malnutrition, medicine and water shortages, and the spread of epidemics and diseases.
The Sudanese Doctors Network, in a statement, said that refugees in Gaga camp in Chad are suffering catastrophic humanitarian conditions due to shortages of food and medicine, with disease outbreaks exacerbated by the neglect of international and humanitarian organizations and the lack of adequate food supplies.
The network confirmed that 13 people died of hunger in the past week alone, putting the lives of thousands of Sudanese in the camp at risk.
The network appealed to UN and international organizations to fulfill their responsibilities in providing urgent food aid to Sudanese refugees in Gaga camp, which shelters 21,000 Sudanese, and to prevent further displacement into the unknown in search of food and medicine.
The network expressed deep regret over the deteriorating conditions of Sudanese refugees in Chad and the international neglect of displaced Sudanese, according to the statement.
Source: Sputnik + Al-Yure
