Refugee women in Chad face violence and healthcare gaps

In the eastern regions of Chad, a humanitarian crisis is unfolding as over 1.3 million refugees and returnees, primarily women and children, seek safety in a nation already struggling with extreme poverty and an underfunded healthcare system. This dire situation was brought to light during a recent week-long assessment mission in the country.

Sudanese conflict spills into Chad

The escalating violence in neighboring Sudan has forced thousands of women and girls to flee their homes, seeking refuge in Chad. During a visit to Abéché, Adré in the Ouaddaï province, and the Iridimi refugee camp—located more than 1,000 kilometers from the capital, N’Djamena—Andrew Saberton, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations agency responsible for sexual and reproductive health, witnessed firsthand the harsh realities faced by these displaced women.

In Adré, near the Sudanese border, Saberton visited a UN-supported center where refugee women shared harrowing accounts of violence they endure when leaving the camps to gather firewood. The journey to collect essential resources has become a perilous experience, fraught with risks of harassment, assault, and sexual violence. “Collecting firewood is no longer a routine task but a moment of terror,” Saberton emphasized, echoing the voices of women in another camp.

Despite these overwhelming challenges, Saberton also highlighted the remarkable resilience of the women supported by these centers. Through psychosocial support, vocational training, and income-generating activities, they are finding ways to rebuild their lives and regain a sense of normalcy.

A survivor’s story of resilience

In Abéché, Saberton met a young woman who survived obstetric fistula after being married at the age of 15. Her first pregnancy ended tragically after three days of labor without medical assistance, resulting in the loss of her baby and abandonment by her husband. For nearly a decade, she lived with this severe complication until recently receiving life-changing treatment. Even now, she faces relentless pressure to remarry, underscoring the deep-rooted societal challenges faced by displaced women.

Healthcare systems overwhelmed

In the Wadi Fira province, where the Iridimi camp is located, healthcare facilities are struggling to cope with the continuous influx of refugees. Local authorities report that over 333,000 refugees are spread across eight camps in the region. At the camp’s health center, midwives handle up to 300 deliveries per month with severely limited resources. Medical staff reveal that shortages of anesthetics sometimes prevent safe cesarean sections, putting women’s lives at risk. “No woman should have to endure a cesarean section without anesthesia,” Saberton stressed.

The UN official also sounded the alarm on the drastic reduction in humanitarian funding. This year, the UNFPA office in Chad has seen a 44% drop 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 already recording one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally—approximately 860 deaths per 100,000 live births—the situation demands urgent international attention.

Saberton concluded, “For the women and girls in eastern Chad, assistance means safe childbirth, care after violence, and a chance to survive.”