Hunger drives over 2,000 Sudanese from Darfur across border into Chad

The Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees says 538 families reached Tawila and shelter areas within three weeks amid food shortages and declining aid.

The General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees in Darfur said about 2,510 people had crossed from the region into Chad in a new wave of displacement fueled by the ongoing war, crop failure and scarce rainfall.

Adam Rijal, the coordination's spokesperson, said in a statement issued on November 9 that those fleeing were leaving "to escape hunger and the lack of livelihoods," noting that hundreds of families had also been displaced to other locations inside Darfur.

Tawila under pressure

The coordination said 538 families, comprising about 3,227 people, arrived in Tawila and other shelter areas, including Shangil Tobaya and Nierteti, between October 15 and November 6. Some of the families came from Mershing locality in South Darfur. Rijal said Tawila "is no longer merely an area receiving waves of displacement," pointing to the worsening conditions there.

Reception centers are suffering from overcrowding and shortages of shelter and tents, as well as limited access to clean water, sanitation services, medical care and medicines, while malnutrition is spreading among children. Women and children also face growing risks of violence, exploitation and family separation.

Call for urgent funding

The spokesperson attributed the deteriorating conditions to shrinking humanitarian funding and declining food aid amid rising prices, calling on organizations to provide urgent support for food, shelter, water, health care and protection services.