N'Djamena, Chad – June 15, 2025 — The United Nations has issued an urgent warning as Chad teeters on the edge of a humanitarian disaster, with 1.5 million people in immediate need of clean water. UN Humanitarian Coordinator Francois Batalingaya described the crisis as reaching a “breaking point,” as access to safe drinking water plummets and fears of a cholera outbreak grow.
According to Batalingaya, many people in refugee camps and surrounding host communities are receiving as little as 5 liters of water per person per day, well below the 15-liter minimum recommended for basic health and sanitation. The crisis has been compounded by overcrowding and inadequate sanitation in makeshift camps, creating ideal conditions for the spread of disease.
“This is an S.O.S. Without immediate international support and funding, we will lose lives,” Batalingaya said during a press briefing in N'Djamena.
Sudanese Refugee Influx Overwhelms Capacity
The water crisis is directly linked to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has forced over 850,000 refugees to flee into Chad since the war began. Aid agencies report that nearly 300,000 of these refugees are currently stranded at the border without shelter, clean water, or medical care.
Humanitarian workers on the ground describe scenes of desperation. Many refugees arrive traumatized, exhausted, and hungry, having fled violence and atrocities in Sudan with little more than the clothes on their backs.
“This is one of the most rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situations we have seen,” said one aid official, who noted that refugee camps are dangerously overcrowded and under-resourced.
Food Insecurity Surges to Alarming Levels
The situation is further complicated by Chad’s annual lean season, during which food availability naturally declines. This year, however, the problem has reached unprecedented levels, with 3.3 million people now facing acute food insecurity — a 400% increase compared to a decade ago.
Rising food prices, poor harvests, and the overwhelming pressure on local communities caused by the refugee influx have left many Chadians struggling to feed their families. Aid agencies warn that without rapid intervention, the country could face widespread hunger and malnutrition in the coming months.
Growing Threat of Cholera
Health officials are sounding the alarm over the detection of cholera cases near refugee camps, warning that a larger outbreak could be imminent if access to clean water and sanitation does not improve immediately.
The UN and its humanitarian partners are calling for urgent international assistance to provide clean water, sanitation services, food aid, and medical care. However, funding remains a major obstacle. Many response efforts are underfunded or at risk of shutting down altogether due to budget shortfalls.
A Call for Global Solidarity
Batalingaya emphasized that the international community must act quickly and decisively to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Chad.
> “The people of Chad are showing remarkable generosity in hosting those fleeing war and violence. But they cannot do this alone. We must stand with them now, before it is too late.”
As the crisis deepens, humanitarian workers warn that time is running out to prevent an even greater disaster from unfolding.
For donations and aid coordination, the UN urges interested partners to contact the OCHA Regional Office for West and Central Africa.