Through their Eyes: Experiences of Displaced Sudanese Women and Girls in Eastern Chad

The border between Chad and Sudan has long been a turbulent space where conflict and violence in either country has often forced populations across the border to seek safety. Since April 2023, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan has forced large numbers of Sudanese civilians to flee their homes in search of safety. While all refugees share the need for emergency assistance, research has shown that women and girls encounter specific challenges accessing food and nutrition, sexual and reproductive healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene, and maternal healthcare and face higher risks of, for example, gender-based violence, and the current crisis in Sudan has also brought the situation of displaced women and children to light. 

SIPRI and its Chadian partner, BUCOFORE, carried out field research in four refugee camps in eastern Chad, focusing on the situation of Sudanese refugee women and girls. This report presents the findings of the research, which was gathered via perception surveys, qualitative interviews and focus group discussions. The research finds critical gaps in aid provision, protection and gender-sensitive programming and demonstrates that the infrastructure in place is not currently gender responsive. The humanitarian response remains severely underfunded, further exacerbating these challenges and limiting support and opportunities for those in need. The report concludes with recommendations for policymakers, humanitarian actors and the donor community concerned with the situation in the Chad–Sudan border region.

This publication is a product of the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme, funded by United Kingdom International Development from the UK government.