(Adnkronos) – In Chad, in the Tine transit camps and in the nearby camps for displaced persons located in the east of the country, near the border with Sudan, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is intensifying its assistance to Sudanese refugees, fleeing the increasing attacks and violence in North Darfur. It is estimated, reads a note from the organization, that about 40,000 people, mostly from El Fasher and the surrounding internally displaced persons camps, have arrived since the end of April in Tine, in the Wadi Fira province. These extremely vulnerable people now find themselves living in severely overcrowded conditions and with limited access to essential services.
Many people are malnourished and suffer from severe psychological stress due to the violence suffered in North Darfur and during the journey to Chad. The vast majority of refugees are women and children from El Fasher and the Zamzam camp. Many of them have already suffered hunger due to the siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and since a famine has been underway in the Zamzam camp for months, as reported by the Famine Review Committee (FRC). “We walked a long way to get here. We crossed several villages to reach Tine and escape the violence and bombing. We have been here for several days but we struggle to find food and water. We have been wearing the same clothes for days,” said a 20-year-old refugee girl.
The Tine transit camp currently hosts over 18,000 people, many of whom sleep on the ground, under the scorching 40°C sun, without shelter and with extremely limited access to food and water, despite the help of the host communities. MSF has increased its medical and humanitarian activities in the transit camp and at the Tine border, to enhance the availability of primary health care services.
In addition to nutritional screenings and vaccinations at the border, in recent weeks MSF has carried out over 900 visits per week at the Tine camp health facility. Here, the overall malnutrition rate among children under 5 reaches 29%, with 9% of cases of severe malnutrition. Routine vaccinations remain a priority, and a mass vaccination campaign is underway, especially after the identification of measles cases. The MSF health facility also offers care for pregnant women and survivors of sexual violence. MSF teams are organizing the transfer of the most serious patients to hospitals and are building 50 emergency latrines. In addition, MSF teams are in action to organize a new distribution of therapeutic food and basic necessities. MSF currently distributes 60,000 liters of water per day, but this amount covers only half of the current needs.
“Sudanese refugees arrive exhausted, many are malnourished and need immediate assistance,” says Claire San Filippo, MSF emergency coordinator in Sudan. “We ask donors, the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations to increase mobilization to provide or enhance support in terms of food, shelter, sanitation and medical care, including mental health support.” “The current humanitarian response is insufficient and,” she continues, “the next rainy season risks further worsening living conditions, spreading diseases and aggravating food insecurity and lack of sanitation.”
Despite the urgent needs in the Tine transit camp and other camps in Wadi Fira province, MSF is witnessing a very limited distribution of aid, despite the solidarity shown by the local population and other organizations. The financial crisis affecting the entire humanitarian sector is also evident in eastern Chad. Meanwhile, the war in Sudan continues unabated and more and more people are seeking refuge in Chad.
MSF is also present in other refugee camps in the Wadi Fira area, such as the Iridimi camp, where refugees are transferred from the Tine transit camp. To help improve the difficult situation in the Iridimi camp, which has reached maximum capacity, MSF recently started supporting the local health center, focusing on the continuity of primary care and vaccinations, strengthening epidemiological surveillance, patient flow management and transfers, and improving sanitation conditions. MSF also runs mobile clinics along the border with Sudan, including in the Kulbus and Birak areas.
The humanitarian situation on the Chad-Sudan border has once again reached a critical point, with over 70,000 new refugees arriving in Chad since April 2025. The country, concludes the MSF note, already hosts over one million refugees, including more than 800,000 Sudanese who have fled the conflict that began over two years ago.
