Darfur Crisis: 750,000 Sudanese and Chadians in Health Emergency as Dengue Fever, Measles and Hepatitis E Ravage Camps

Over 750,000 Sudanese and Chadians have fled Darfur and arrived at the 32 entry points in eastern Chad. With 44.8% of Sudanese refugees settling in Chad, it is the country most affected by the crisis in Sudan. These refugees are living in a variety of formal and informal camps across 11 health districts in Ennedi East, Ouaddaï, Sila, and Wadi Fira provinces.

The humanitarian situation is being further exacerbated by epidemics of dengue fever, measles, and hepatitis E. To date, over 6,692 people have been treated with the support of MSF-F, PUI, ICRC and an international emergency team dispatched by WHO. Recent fighting has been reported in Sudan, which may lead to new arrivals at entry points such as Tiné and Birak in Wadi Fira province.

With the rainy season just a few months away, there are concerns about the health situation due to the torrential rains (Ouadi) that make it difficult to move temporary waterways. The WHO will no longer have access to certain sites due to this challenge which will make it difficult for them to provide a coordinated health response to any public health events that may occur during the rainy season.