Activists warned on Wednesday of worsening humanitarian conditions in refugee camps in eastern Chad, where thousands of Sudanese refugees face the threat of famine amid reductions in food rations provided by humanitarian organizations.
Ahmed Arbab, an activist in refugee camps in eastern Chad, told Sudan Tribune that cuts in food assistance have begun to affect living conditions, particularly in Arkoum camp, with alarming indicators of rising malnutrition rates, especially among children and women.
He said that food shortages and delays in distribution have forced many families to rely on wild tree fruits as an alternative means of survival, in the absence of minimum food security.
He noted that the aid distributed does not meet families’ needs, explaining that a household of ten receives a food ration intended for two months, yet it only lasts about one week.
He added that the ration includes one and a half sacks of grains (each weighing 50 kilograms), along with limited quantities of legumes and salt, in addition to one liter of oil per person—quantities he stressed are insufficient to ensure daily nutrition.
He also pointed out that food distribution halts for about six months each year, further exacerbating the suffering of residents and forcing them to endure harsh conditions in their struggle to survive.
