Since April 2023, the breakout of conflict between rival armed forces in Sudan has forced millions of people to cross the border into Chad.
People have fled the war in Sudan to Chad with next to nothing. They escaped ethnically driven attacks in the western Darfur region of Sudan. The need for humanitarian assistance is huge. Most refugees are living in makeshift shelters and overcrowded spaces. There is limited access to sanitation.
In Chad, our team met Zara. Zara fled the war in Sudan with her children in search of safety.
A search for safety
“They killed many members of our community. They also attacked and killed my close relatives.
“We fled because of the war. We saw our loved ones killed and we fled to take refuge in Chad.
They went from house to house to kill people in my community, which caused us to flee for refuge. During the escape, many other people died, and their belongings were taken. We left our belongings to save our lives.”
Zara sits in her temporary shelter, preparing tea.
Finding refuge
Like many, it was a long journey for Zara and her family, before finding refuge in Chad.
“We travelled for three days to arrive in Eastern Chad. We waited four days at the transit site to be registered. Then we travelled by vehicle to come to this current site.”
Life before conflict
Zara describes what life was like for her and her family before the conflict caused them to flee.
“Before the crisis, life was good in Sudan. There was peace, water, and the children’s school lives were good. The children were well fed, and we had everything at our disposal.”
“We lived in harmony with our neighbourhood and our parents, without distinction of ethnicity or race. But since I have been in Chad, I’ve discovered a difference in race and ethnicity.”
Zara sits, preparing tea for friends and ShelterBox staff.
The challenge ahead
Although Zara and her children are now safe, there are still issues that worry her. Her husband did not come with her to Chad, and she is having to try and provide for her children on her own. “When we were in Sudan, the children were going to school, but since our arrival at this camp they no longer go to school and I myself do not work.”
“We must travel between 10 and 20 kilometres to get water. We struggle to carry out income-generating activities because most women don’t have money to do business here. In addition, women and girls cannot take literacy classes or run small businesses.”
Despite these setbacks, Zara had strong words of advice for other women in her situation.
“I advise women like me to have patience and courage for a better future, for themselves and their children.”
Zara sits under a shelter made from sticks to stay out of the heat.
A hope for peace
When asked what her hopes for the future were, it was clear that above all else Zara wanted there to be peace. “For me, having shelter is a good thing, but I want to live in peace with my children here in Chad and for there to be peace in Sudan too.”
“Home, for me, is a place of tranquillity and serenity, but it is not present now.”
Sudan update
Millions of people like Zara and her family are fleeing the war in Sudan.
Sudan now has the biggest and fastest-growing displacement crisis in the world. It is also the largest humanitarian crisis ever recorded.
Even before the war began in April 2023, Sudan was facing a severe humanitarian crisis with 15.8 million people needing aid.
The conflict has made things much worse, with 14.6 million people displaced and 30.4 million people—more than half of Sudan’s population—now needing humanitarian support.
We’re working with a local partner Help Tchad. Together, we’re providing shelter upgrades to existing temporary emergency shelters. Along with essential aid items to allow people to get back on their feet.
Read about our response