Today, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby announced that the United States, through USAID, will provide more than $69 million in additional humanitarian assistance in response to persistent needs of crisis-affected people in Chad, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The funding announced today will provide vitally needed humanitarian assistance to more than 1.5 million people.
Chad is facing concurrent crises that are generating significant needs among vulnerable populations in various parts of the country and is currently experiencing its worst lean season ever, with over 3.4 million people in severe food insecurity between June and August. Since the beginning of the humanitarian crisis in neighboring Sudan, more than 610,000 Sudanese refugees and over 200,000 Chadian returnees have crossed into eastern Chad in need of protection and life-saving assistance, including food assistance, health care, and nutrition support. This influx of people, the largest in Chad's history, has also exacerbated existing humanitarian needs among local Chadian host communities living along the Chad-Sudan border. Persistent armed group activity in Chad's Lac Province continues to generate significant humanitarian needs, with 707,000 people, 95 percent of the population, requiring urgent life-saving assistance.
USAID's additional life-saving relief comes at a critical moment as refugees and communities across Chad remain with limited access to food assistance, health care, shelter, and safe water sources. USAID's UN and non-governmental organization partners will provide humanitarian food and multi-purpose cash assistance, health care, nutrition support, protection, shelter items, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services, among other support, for nearly 1.5 million people in eastern Chad and Lac province.
The United States has provided nearly $162 million in humanitarian assistance for the people in need in Chad to date in fiscal year 2024. The U.S. stands with communities in Chad and Sudanese refugees currently sheltering in the country as they continue to require life-saving assistance to meet basic needs.
