• More than 55,000 Sudanese refugees have fled to Chad in 2026, with daily crossings rising sharply.
• The UN reports that funding has reached only 18% of the required $1.6 billion for refugee aid.
• The ongoing civil war in Sudan has displaced approximately 14 million people as violence escalates.

The number of Sudanese refugees fleeing into Chad has dramatically increased, with over 55,000 people arriving this year amid escalating violence in Sudan's civil war. The UNHCR reports that this influx has surged to more than 400 refugees crossing daily, which is about 20 times the rate seen in previous months. This alarming trend reflects a dire humanitarian situation as families escape conflicts in Darfur, Kordofan, and the Blue Nile regions, where airstrikes and other violent acts are common, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The conflict, resulting from a power struggle since April 2023 between Sudan's Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has led to over 200,000 deaths and left 11 million people displaced. Among them, the UN reports that about 1 million have sought refuge in Chad, exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis, according to Africanews.

Despite this escalating crisis, the UN has indicated that funding efforts fall significantly short, with only 18% of the necessary $1.6 billion received. This lack of financial support is affecting aid delivery, leading to insufficient shelter, water, and sanitation for the refugees. More than 190,000 refugees in Chad are reportedly living in challenging conditions, with urgent needs for basic services exacerbating their plight, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Africanews.

The UN warns that, without an increase in humanitarian support, many refugees may attempt to migrate to Europe in search of better living conditions. According to Mamadou Dian Balde, the UN's regional refugee coordinator, the declining assistance could push refugees "to vote with their feet," seeking safety through perilous alternatives, as many are left with less than half the minimum needed for survival, illustrating the urgent need for international intervention, according to Al Jazeera and Africanews.