UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner calls for strong international support for Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries

N’DJAMENA – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Raouf Mazou, today urged increased international support and attention for displaced people from Sudan – including refugees, refugee returnees and host communities.

As the conflict in Sudan continues, more than 250,000 people have crossed the borders to the neighbouring countries. Without a concrete and immediate solution, more people are expected to flee from Sudan seeking safety.

Mazou visited a recent refugee site in Borota, only a few kilometres away from the border with Sudan, where 25,000 Sudanese arrived a week ago as the fighting in West Darfur intensified. He met with newly arrived families and listened to the huge challenges they faced in Sudan.  

“Almost 90 per cent of new arrivals are women and children. Many have been sheltering under trees in makeshift shelters with very limited services and minimal resources. As the rainy season approaches, we urgently need to relocate new arrivals to the nearest refugee camps.” said UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations.

He also met newly arrived refugees who moved to the Gaga camp as the relocation started last week. Gaga camp has been home to 28,000 Sudanese refugees since 2005, located 130 kilometres away from the border. Upon arrival, they received a newly built and separate family shelter and are now able to access services such as education and health care.

Concluding a four-day visit to Chad, Mazou expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Chad for their generosity in hosting almost 700,000 refugees, including an estimated 60,000 - 90,000 newly arrived Sudanese refugees.

“We applaud Chad for demonstrating solidarity by accepting refugees with open arms,” said Mazou of his visit. “However, Chad cannot do it alone. We urge the international community to share the burden with Sudan’s neighbouring countries and provide urgent support in delivering life-saving assistance to those forced to flee their homes.”

UNHCR, together with humanitarian partners, launched an inter-agency funding appeal for $470.4 million to support over 1 million people, including refugees, returnees and third-country nationals, affected by the crisis in Sudan.

Media Contact:

• In Chad, Eujin Byun, [email protected], +235 61 60 04 87
• In Chad, Aristophane Ngargoune, [email protected], +235 66 98 37 92