Refugee women in Chad face dual crises: violence and inadequate healthcare

The humanitarian crisis in Chad has reached a critical juncture, with over 1.3 million displaced individuals—predominantly women and children—seeking refuge in a country already grappling with extreme poverty and an underfunded healthcare system, according to a senior United Nations official.

The human toll of Sudan’s conflict

Andrew Saberton, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) overseeing management operations, recently concluded a week-long assessment in eastern Chad. His mission took him to Abéché, Adré in the Ouaddaï region, and the Iridimi refugee camp, more than 1,000 kilometers from the capital N’Djamena. There, he witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of Sudan’s ongoing war on women and girls who have fled across the border.

In Adré, near the Sudanese frontier, Saberton visited an UNFPA-supported center where refugee women shared harrowing accounts of violence they endure when leaving the camps to gather firewood. The quest for basic necessities like fuel has become a perilous endeavor, with many reporting harassment, physical assault, and sexual violence. “Collecting wood is no longer just about survival—it’s about fear,” Saberton noted, echoing the testimonies of women in other camps.

Despite these challenges, he praised the remarkable resilience of women participating in UNFPA-run programs. These initiatives offer psychosocial support, vocational training, and income-generating activities, providing a lifeline in an otherwise bleak landscape.

Voices from the crisis: a story of survival and abandonment

In Abéché, Saberton met a young woman whose life was shattered by obstetric fistula—a severe childbirth injury. Married at just 15, she endured three days of labor without medical assistance in her first pregnancy, resulting in the loss of her baby and abandonment by her husband. For nearly a decade, she lived with this debilitating condition before finally receiving treatment. “She continues to face pressure to remarry,” Saberton recounted, highlighting the compounded vulnerabilities of refugee women.

Healthcare systems overwhelmed

The Wadi Fira region, home to the Iridimi camp, is a microcosm of Chad’s healthcare collapse. Local authorities report over 333,000 refugees distributed across eight camps. Healthcare workers at the camp’s clinic handle up to 300 monthly deliveries under severely constrained conditions. Medical staff reveal that shortages of anesthetics often prevent safe cesarean sections, a stark violation of basic medical ethics. “No woman should ever have to undergo a cesarean without anesthesia,” Saberton emphasized.

Funding gaps exacerbate the crisis. The UNFPA office in Chad faces a 44% reduction in resources compared to 2025. Of the $18.7 million requested for 2026 to sustain maternal health services and protection programs, only 2.5% has been secured to date. With Chad recording one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates—approximately 860 deaths per 100,000 live births—the situation demands urgent international intervention.

Saberton underscored the stark reality for women and girls in eastern Chad: “For those we met, assistance means safe delivery, care after violence, and a chance to survive.” Without immediate action, the cycle of suffering will only deepen.