Refugees in Chad and Darfur Urge End to Sudan Conflict

On September 21, marking the International Day of Peace, Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad and advocacy groups in Darfur issued a unified plea to end the war that has persisted since April 2023. These appeals highlight the deteriorating humanitarian conditions faced by displaced communities, who are calling for a cessation of hostilities to facilitate their return home.

According to Dabanga Radio TV Online, the refugees describe a landscape defined by severe shortages of food, healthcare, and education. Many individuals report that their livelihoods have been reduced to precarious daily labor for minimal wages, while others face physical risks while attempting to gather basic necessities outside the camp environments.

Humanitarian crisis in eastern Chad camps

In the Mij camp in eastern Chad, residents describe exhaustion from prolonged displacement. Fatima, a refugee in the camp, stated that families are struggling to survive, noting that daily labor in construction or ground-digging yields only about 500 Sudanese pounds, an amount she considers insufficient for basic needs. She also highlighted the danger young people face when traveling in search of work, with some reported killed or missing.

Salima, another resident, emphasized the lack of assistance since their arrival in 2023. She reported that families have received no bedding, food supplies, or educational support for their children. Many women in the camp are widows with orphaned children, and those who venture out to collect firewood or seek work often face beatings, insults, and the confiscation of their tools.

Impact on children and families

Haja Suad noted that the camp environment is unsuitable for raising children, leading to behavioral changes and a loss of access to education. She expressed a urgent desire for the war to end so that families can return to Sudan, arguing that the current displacement has destroyed their country and their lives. She called on General Abdelfattah El Burhan, the United Nations, and all warring parties to work toward an urgent solution.

Habiba, a fellow refugee, shared that the loss of loved ones continues even in exile. She recalled that while life in Sudan also involved camps, conditions were better than they are now. Her hope is that by next year's International Day of Peace, Sudan will have finally left its wars behind, allowing for a stable return home.

Civil society calls for protection

The Darfur Women’s Forum also issued an appeal on the occasion of the peace day. Alawiya Mukhtar, the forum’s general coordinator, stated that peace is a basic right rather than just a slogan. The organization called for the protection of civilians and stronger efforts toward peaceful coexistence, emphasizing that women are carrying the hopes for a resolution to the conflict.