Chad — Sudan crisis response: Flash update 27 (12 January 2024)

Over 610,000 people have crossed into Chad since the onset of the crisis in Sudan. IOM estimates that more than 136,735 among them are Chadian returnees and expects this number to rise to 150,000 by the end of March 2024, due to ongoing conflict in Darfur.

• In coordination with CNARR and humanitarian organizations, IOM has counted 93,701 returnees and over 350 third-country nationals (from South Sudan, Niger, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Uganda) in 36 localities in three provinces.

• Most of the returnees currently live in spontaneous locations near the border and are in urgent need of food, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter, household items, health, and protection.

• IOM is relocating returnees from Adre to the newly developed returnee community of Tongori, Ouaddaï province. In total, 8,324 individuals have so far been relocated. IOM is also developing the site of Deguessa, Sila province, with shelter, WASH, and Protection/MHPSS assistance for the benefit of 25,000 returnees.

• IOM is coordinating with local authorities, embassies and diplomatic representations for the safe transfer and voluntary return of third-country nationals (TCNs) from Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon to N’Djamena.

• IOM collaborates with a range of operational partners in the returnee response including the Government of Chad, UNHCR, OCHA, LWF, PUI, UNICEF, MSF, UNFPA, LMI, ICRC, IRC, ACTED, the Chadian Red Cross, HELP-Tchad, ATURAD, Concern Worldwide, COOPI, INTERSOS, and WFP.