Refugee crisis in Chad: Sudanese refugees bear witness to terrible violence
Mariam Adam Yaya, a Sudanese refugee, recounts the terrible events that forced her to flee to Chad. After fleeing the border without provisions and after a four-day march, she and her eight-year-old son are now seeking refuge in overcrowded camps like Adre. Yaya says heavily armed men attacked her village and she had to abandon seven of her children, while the brutal violence sparked fears of ethnic cleansing.
Context of the conflict in Sudan
Since April 15, Sudan has been gripped by a civil war between army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, his former deputy and commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Paramilitary operations in the western region of Darfur have caused civilian casualties and raised fears of possible genocide.
Flight to Chad and traumatic experiences
Chad, a country in central Africa, has hosted the largest number of Sudanese refugees. Armed groups have forced more than 8,000 people to flee to Chad, where formal camps and informal settlements have been created. Refugees report traumatic experiences, including violence, loss of family members and rape of women and girls.
Critical conditions and humanitarian crisis
The United States and other Western nations have accused the RSF and its allies of crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. The death toll from the war is estimated at 12,000 and nearly seven million people have fled their homes. Chadian refugees now face the threat of famine and water shortages, causing tension in the camps. Humanitarian organizations are doing their best to ease the critical situation and help the refugees.
Conclusion
Refugees from Sudan have survived terrible violence and traumatic experiences, only to now face a new humanitarian crisis in Chad. The international community should take urgent action to help refugees and resolve the conflict in Sudan.