Sudan war drives acute food insecurity and swells Chad refugee camp

Since April 2023, fighting between Sudan's Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army has killed tens of thousands and displaced about 14 million people. A joint UN Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Programme report in June warned that Sudan ranks among the world's highest‑risk areas for acute hunger and could slide into catastrophic famine without large‑scale humanitarian aid.

In neighboring Chad, the Ouré Cassoni refugee camp—originally opened in 2003—now shelters over 110 000 displaced Sudanese, predominantly from the Zaghawa community. The camp operates with a single doctor for its population, and humanitarian assistance provides food, schooling and basic health care, but resources remain scarce. Each day 100‑150 new arrivals seek safety, while United Nations agencies struggle to meet the growing demand. The United States has imposed sanctions on Sudanese Islamist groups and individuals linked to the conflict, aiming to curb external interference and further destabilisation.