Water crisis deepens suffering for Sudanese refugees in Chad
Sudan Media Forum
Joint News Room
By Ayin Network
January 5, 2025 (EAST CHAD) – Aisha Adam Ishaq escaped the violence in El Geneina, West Darfur, when war erupted between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces. But her journey to refuge in eastern Chad has brought her to a desperate situation where even clean water is scarce.
Ishaq receives a mere 16 litres of water per day in the Tanqori refugee camp – a meagre amount compared to her needs. According to an interview with Ayin media network, this forces her and other women to seek water from contaminated sources like sewers and valleys, which they say have a foul smell and discoloured appearance.
Ishaq and other refugees were recently relocated to Tanqori by Chadian authorities from the Adri camp, which was closer to essential services like clean water and medical care.
Thousands Face Thirst
The Adri camp housed thousands of Sudanese refugees who fled Darfur during the 2003 conflict between the government of Omar al-Bashir and armed groups. It swelled again with the outbreak of fighting in April 2023, leading to tensions with local communities who demanded the refugees leave their land.
Citing these tensions, authorities moved the refugees to the newly established Tanqori camp, located in a remote area with limited services. Refugees initially resisted the move due to concerns about water, food, and security but were forcibly relocated.
The water crisis in Tanqori has led to conflict between refugees and the host community, with humanitarian organizations largely absent.
“We are forced to go to the valley to get water, even though it is not safe to drink and makes us sick, especially the children,” Ishaq said. “Women walk long distances with their children on their backs because there is no other choice.”
Suffering Prolonged
“There are no services in Tanqori camp,” Fatima Adam Idris, another refugee, told Ayn. “For 12 months, we have carried water on our heads, and we cannot endure this any longer. We need water, food, blankets, and clothes, especially now that it is winter.”
Amira Mustafa Ishaq said the lack of clean water is the most pressing issue. “We go to the valley because the water is better than the groundwater from the pipes,” she said. “We often rely on help from relatives because there is no aid here.”
Chad hosts over 600,000 Sudanese refugees who fled the 2003 Darfur conflict and the recent fighting, according to the UNHCR. The agency recently issued an urgent appeal for assistance, saying the situation in the camps has reached a critical point.
This report is published in collaboration with members of the Sudan Media Forum.
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