The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has taken a grim turn as only a small number of civilians fleeing the recently seized city of el-Fasher have reached eastern Chad, despite its proximity. Charlotte Slente, Secretary-General of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), highlighted this alarming trend during her recent visit to the region. She reported that despite el-Fasher being less than 300 kilometers from Chad, only around 50 people are entering daily through the border town of Adre, with a total of 200 to 500 crossing all Chad-Sudan borders daily. The DRC described these numbers as “deeply worrying,” especially given the dire situation in el-Fasher, where 90,000 of its 260,000 civilians have fled. The low influx is attributed to the city’s prolonged siege and the perilous journey to safety. Slente shared harrowing accounts from refugees, including a young Sudanese couple who lost family members and endured extreme violence during their escape. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), responsible for the city’s capture, have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence, and other atrocities, further complicating the humanitarian response. Chad, already hosting over 882,000 Sudanese refugees, is preparing for an additional 90,000 arrivals. Despite its limited resources, Chad’s government is allocating land for new refugee settlements. Slente criticized the international community for its inaction, warning that without concerted diplomatic pressure, more mass atrocities could occur. The conflict, rooted in tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, has displaced millions and claimed tens of thousands of lives, with no end in sight.
‘Worryingly’ few civilians from Sudan’s el-Fasher making it to Chad, says aid chief
