UNICEF warns of ‘worsening crisis’ for children on Chad-Sudan border

June 23, 2025 (N’DJAMENA) – The head of the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF warned on Monday of a “worsening crisis” for hundreds of thousands of children who have fled Sudan’s war into eastern Chad, saying host communities are stretched beyond capacity and humanitarian funding is falling critically short.

Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director, said after a three-day mission to the region that services for refugees and the communities supporting them were overwhelmed by the scale of the displacement from the conflict that erupted in Sudan in April 2023.

“Hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable children are bearing the brunt of both the war in Sudan and a lack of essential services for those who have fled to Chad,” Russell said in a statement. “Many children are malnourished, out of school, and at serious risk of exploitation and disease.”

More than 700,000 children have crossed into eastern Chad from Sudan, part of a total influx of nearly 860,000 Sudanese refugees and 274,000 returning Chadians, according to government figures. Children now account for 61% of all refugee arrivals.

Russell described harrowing accounts from those who had escaped, particularly from El Geneina in Darfur. “One woman shared a painful account of fleeing… because of killings, mass rapes, and homes being burned,” she said.

During her visit to the border town of Adré, now overwhelmed with a refugee population six times that of its residents, Russell highlighted the acute strain on local resources.

Health crises are escalating, with measles and malnutrition spreading. UNICEF warned of a high risk that a cholera outbreak in Sudan’s West Darfur could cross the border. Two out of three refugee children are not enrolled in any form of schooling.

The crisis compounds the pre-existing challenges in Chad, which already has the fourth-highest child mortality rate in the world.

“The people of Chad have shown extraordinary generosity,” Russell said. “But they cannot do this alone. We must stand in solidarity with them.”

The appeal for support comes amid a severe funding shortfall. UNICEF said its 2025 humanitarian response plan for Chad requires $114 million but is currently only 34% funded.

During her mission, Russell met with Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno to discuss support for the country and reaffirm UNICEF’s long-term commitment.