MSF calls for urgent aid to support Sudanese refugees fleeing to Chad

In the Tine transit camp and the nearby refugee camps in eastern Chad, close to the border with Sudan, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is scaling up its assistance to the newly arrived Sudanese refugees. They are fleeing escalating attacks and violence in North Darfur. Since the end of April an estimated 40,000 refugees, the vast majority coming from El Fasher and its surrounding camps for displaced people, have arrived in Tine, in Wadi Fira province. These extremely vulnerable people now face harsh overcrowded conditions and limited access to basic services.

On arrival in Tine, some are malnourished and experiencing profound psychological distress due to the horrific violence in North Darfur and on the roads leading to Chad. The overwhelming majority are women and children coming from El Fasher and Zamzam camp for internally displaced people. They have already endured starvation as the Rapid Support Forces laid siege to these areas and famine conditions have been prevalent for months in Zamzam camp according to the Famine Review Committee.

We've walked a long way to get here. We passed through several villages to get to Tine to take refuge from the violence and bombings. We've been here for several days but we're struggling to find food and water. We've been wearing the same clothes for days”, said a 20-year-old refugee woman. 

The Tine transit camp is currently hosting over 18,000 people, many of whom are sleeping on the bare ground in 40°C heat, with no shelter and severely limited access to water and food despite support from the host communities.

MSF has scaled up its medical and humanitarian activities in the transit camp and at the Tine border to increase availability of primary healthcare services. Apart from nutrition screenings and vaccination at the border point, over the past weeks, MSF has carried out over 900 consultations per week in the health post at the transit camp. At the health post, the global rate of malnutrition among children under five is as high as 29% with 9% being severely malnourished. Routine vaccination efforts remain a priority in the camp as cases of measles have been detected. A mass vaccination campaign is ongoing. Finally, care for pregnant women and for survivors of sexual violence is also being provided at the health post. MSF teams set up referrals of critical patients to hospitals and will build an additional 50 emergency latrines. MSF is also preparing further distribution of therapeutic food and essential items. The organisation is also distributing 60,000 liters of water per day but this is only half of what is currently needed.

"Sudanese refugees arrive exhausted, many malnourished and require immediate assistance. We ask donors, the UN and other humanitarian organisations to increase the mobilisation to provide or scale up support in terms of food, shelter, sanitation and medical care including mental health services." says Claire San Filippo, MSF's emergency coordinator for Sudan. 

The current humanitarian response is insufficient and the upcoming rainy season it is likely to worsen living conditions, spread disease and exacerbate food insecurity and lack of sanitation.” Claire San Filippo, MSF's emergency coordinator for Sudan. 

Despite the immense needs in Tine transit camp and other refugee camps in Wadi Fira, MSF is witnessing very limited aid distribution despite solidarity from the host community and grassroot organisations. The financial crisis affecting the entire humanitarian sector is clearly being felt in eastern Chad. The war continues unabated in Sudan and more people are hoping to reach Chad.