Sudanese refugees, including Aisha Adam Ishaq, who fled the violence in El Geneina, West Darfur, now grapple with harsh conditions in Chad’s remote Tanqori camp, where clean water is scarce.
Relocated from the Adri camp by Chadian authorities, the refugees receive only 16 liters of water per day, insufficient for their needs. Many, including Ishaq, resort to unsafe sources like contaminated valleys and sewers, risking their health.
The Adri camp had access to vital services but was closed due to local community tensions over land disputes, forcing refugees into the isolated Tanqori camp. Despite initial resistance due to concerns over limited services, they were eventually relocated.
The lack of clean water has exacerbated tensions between refugees and host communities, with humanitarian aid remaining largely absent. Women and children must traverse long distances to fetch unsafe water, adding to their burdens.
Fatima Adam Idris, another refugee, highlighted the struggles, saying, “For months, we’ve carried water on our heads. We urgently need water, food, and basic supplies to survive the winter.”
Chad currently hosts over 600,000 Sudanese refugees, with the UNHCR warning that conditions in the camps are critical and calling for immediate assistance.