Chad is facing a massive influx of refugees from Sudan. Essential resources such as food and water are scarce. SWISSAID has launched an emergency aid project to support 10,000 families in one of the country’s largest refugee camps and surrounding villages, aiming to improve access to water and food security.
Facts
Aims
The overarching goal is to improve food security and access to clean water, while also fostering peaceful coexistence between refugees and the local population. The project targets a total of 10,000 particularly vulnerable families, of which 80% are refugees and 20% are local residents. The following measures are planned:
- Rapid emergency aid with food and seed packages delivered in three batches
- An improved water supply system that can provide 24,000 households with access to drinking water
- Hygiene kits distributed to 2,000 households and health awareness campaigns conducted in 10 communities, indirectly benefiting 25,000 people
- Training for both refugees and locals in agroecological farming methods and the joint creation of vegetable gardens to sustainably improve food production
- Measures to promote peaceful coexistence
The ongoing civil war in Sudan has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and forced millions to flee. In neighbouring Chad, over a million Sudanese refugees—mainly women and children—are seeking safety from the violence and horrors of war. As of June 2025, their number exceeds 1.4 million. According to the Red Cross, this is currently the world’s largest displacement crisis, occurring in one of the poorest countries in the world. The displacement is expected to continue and even increase following the capture of El Fasher, a town in western Sudan’s Darfur region, by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 26 October 2025. The UN estimates that nearly 100,000 people have fled El Fasher since early November, reporting horrific acts of violence – massacres, rapes, abductions – against the civilian population.
The humanitarian situation is particularly dire in Farchana refugee camp in eastern Chad, near the Sudanese border, where currently 47’000 people are staying.
The people arriving at this camp have had their lives turned upside down by the war. Among them is 31-year-old Rahbia Hassan Zakaria, who was on the verge of completing her law degree in Sudan. But the war forced her to flee with her family at a moment’s notice. In Farchana, she continues her studies independently and with determination – despite the difficult conditions and lack of resources.
The difficult situation in the camp is echoed by 34-year-old mother Wahiba Adam Ali Ibrahim. Access to water and medical care remains inadequate. In the video, she shares a glimpse into life of the people in Farchana:
Support Farchana Emergency Relief Efforts
Food parcels, drinking water, and seeds
Through its coordination office in N’Djamena, SWISSAID has thus launched a project to support 10,000 families in and around the Farchana refugee camp during this emergency.
To improve food security, the project provides food parcels containing staple foods for the most vulnerable families. To date, 6,000 parcels have been distributed. An additional 3,000 parcels are scheduled to be distributed between late December and early January.
At the same time, farmers are supported in maintaining stable agricultural production despite challenging climatic conditions. SWISSAID distributes seeds, tools, and fertilizers adapted to local conditions and trains farming families in sustainable agricultural practices. The project also aims to reduce health risks and im-prove living conditions by enhancing access to clean drinking water. Due to a cholera epidemic that has been raging since July 2025, measures have been taken to stem the spread of the disease, such as distributing hygiene kits and sharing information among communities about how to prevent transmission.
In detail:
9,000 food parcels
will be distributed over nine months to 3,000 vulnerable families.
500 farmers and refugees
will receive training in agroecology. 500 kilograms of climate-resilient seed, as well as fertilizer and farming tools, will be provided.
1 improved water supply system
is planned. Two existing wells will be connected to a pipe system to carry water to the camp. The system should ultimately facilitate access to drinking water for thousands of people. In addition, the project aims to work with the communities to strengthen knowledge about hygiene risks and disease prevention.
Long-term peace
The project also includes a long-term peacebuilding component aimed at reducing ethnic tensions, improving dialogue between refugees and local residents, and fostering a peaceful environment. Two dialogue forums are planned, along with training in conflict management for local actors and capacity-building for local leaders. In addition, infrastructure projects for youth and women—such as community centres and school gardens—are intended to strengthen collaboration among different groups.
Long-Term Measures
5 community spaces
will be made available to women and youth (e.g., community centres, gardens, etc.).
500 local actors and 100 community leaders
will be trained in conflict management and peaceful conflict resolution.
Promoting social cohesion
of social cohesion and peaceful relationships between refugees and host communities through football matches, festivals, and cultural exchange events.
Salomon Djekorgee Dainyoo/Fairpicture
The emergency aid is aimed at refugees from Sudan and the local population in the Farchana region of eastern Chad.
Our experience in this area
SWISSAID brings long-standing experience in emergency aid and in-depth local knowledge, having worked for many years in several provinces of Chad. The project is managed by SWISSAID’s coordination office in N’Djamena in close cooperation with local authorities, ensuring sustainable implementation of the measures. This work is carried out in partnership with local organizations (NGOs, refugee committees, and women’s and youth groups), which play a vital role in implementation.
Image copyright for header and donation form: Peter Caton
Image copyright in text: Salomon Djekorgee Dainyoo/Fairpicture
