Food Aid Running Out in Chad, and How You Can Help

What's the story?

• The U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that it will run out of food in Chad due to a shortage of funds. 
• The agency needs over $185 million to continue its aid efforts, blaming the funding deficit on a lack of international interest.

The impact

• Beginning in December, WFP will have to suspend relief to internally displaced people and refugees from Nigeria, Central African Republic, and Cameroon.
• The shortage of funds comes as Chad faces an influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing ethnic violence, genocidal attacks, rape, and mass killings in the West Darfur region of Sudan. Almost half a million refugees have entered Chad since a power struggle in Sudan plunged the country into civil war in April. 
• A recent assessment found that 90% of these refugees are already malnourished. An additional 2.3 million people in Chad, including 1.3 million children, were already experiencing hunger due to the climate crisis and rising food and fuel prices before the war in Sudan broke out. 
• Pierre Honnorat, WFP's director for Chad, said:

"This forgotten crisis has metastasised as the world's eyes are on other emergencies. It is staggering but more Darfuris have fled to Chad in the last six months than in the preceding 20 years. We cannot let the world stand by and allow our life-saving operations to grind to a halt."

What is next?

• The WFP said in a statement that the suspension of aid will be extended to Chad in January in a "brutal" decision that will impact Sudanese refugees who "will not receive food as they flee across the border."
• The U.N.'s funding is drying up as the need for global aid increases. In 2022, the number of people needing aid rose by one-third to 407 million people.
• U.N.'s aid chief Martin Griffiths said:

"Darfur is rapidly spiraling into a humanitarian calamity. The world cannot allow this to happen. Not again."

How can you help?

• The International Rescue Committee has been in Chad since 2004, with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges on the ground. They are always seeking donations to help the crisis.
• UNICEF is urgently soliciting donations for their relief efforts. The U.N. Refugee Agency has set up a separate page for its emergency appeal.
• Concern Worldwide has been in Chad for 16 years and is working to provide education and nutrition to the millions who need it.

Is the U.S. doing enough to help the region?

-Emma Kansiz

(Photo Credit: UNICEF file photo/Donaig Le Du)