Sudanese refugees in Chad face water shortages

Families who fled armed conflict and mass atrocities are now confronting a new crisis: severe water shortages that are eroding hopes of returning to their homes. In displacement camps and informal settlements across the region, limited access to clean drinking water has forced households to rely on rationed supplies, costly tanker deliveries, or unsafe sources, compounding the hardships already endured during their escape from violence.

Humanitarian organizations report that more than 150,000 displaced individuals are affected by the scarcity, with daily per‑capita allocations falling well below international minimum standards. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned that prolonged water insecurity could lead to heightened health risks and further displacement, as families weigh the prospect of remaining in precarious conditions against the uncertain possibility of returning to areas still marked by insecurity and damaged infrastructure. Aid agencies are urging increased funding and coordinated water‑delivery efforts to mitigate the crisis while longer‑term reconstruction plans remain stalled.