More Than 55,000 Sudanese Refugees Flee to Chad as Displacement Accelerates

More than 55,000 Sudanese refugees have crossed into eastern Chad since the beginning of 2026 as fighting and insecurity in Sudan continue to drive people from their homes, the United Nations refugee agency has said.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned on Friday that the pace of arrivals has accelerated sharply in recent days, while humanitarian funding remains significantly below the level required to respond to growing needs.

Daily arrivals surge at Chad border

Mamadou Dian Balde, the UN's regional refugee coordinator for the Sudan situation, said more than 400 people a day had recently been crossing through the Adré and Tiné border areas in eastern Chad.

According to Balde, that represents roughly 20 times the daily arrival rate recorded during the preceding months. The increase comes amid continuing fighting and deteriorating security conditions in several parts of Sudan.

The situation is particularly concerning in Darfur, Kordofan and Blue Nile states, where ongoing violence and attacks are contributing to further displacement and making humanitarian access more difficult.

Sudan's displacement crisis continues

The conflict between Sudan's Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023, has created one of the world's largest displacement and humanitarian crises.

UNHCR's latest data shows that more than 11.3 million people are currently forcibly displaced as a result of the conflict, including more than 6.4 million internally displaced people and millions who have crossed international borders.

Chad has become one of the principal destinations for people fleeing the conflict. UNHCR says the country hosted about 1.3 million Sudanese refugees at the end of 2025, with the refugee population expected to increase further in 2026.

Humanitarian funding falls short

The increasing refugee arrivals are placing additional pressure on humanitarian operations in Chad and other neighbouring countries.

UNHCR has warned that funding is failing to keep pace with the scale of the emergency. The agency's 2026 regional response plan requires substantial financial support to provide protection, shelter, water, healthcare and other essential services to refugees and host communities.

In eastern Chad, refugees remaining near the border face particularly difficult conditions. UNHCR has reported urgent needs involving water, sanitation, shelter and protection services at transit locations such as Tiné.

The agency has also warned that inadequate assistance could contribute to further onward movement as displaced people search for safety, legal protection and more sustainable living conditions.

Regional pressure grows

The latest arrivals add to a refugee crisis that has already placed considerable pressure on Chad and other countries neighbouring Sudan.

UNHCR says displacement from Sudan remains a major regional emergency, with millions of people seeking safety outside the country while millions more remain displaced internally.

Humanitarian agencies are calling for additional funding and improved access to affected populations as fighting continues in several parts of Sudan.

The latest surge across the Chad border highlights the continuing regional consequences of Sudan's conflict more than three years after the war began.