(4 Minutes Read)
Staff correspondent
Chad is one of the world’s poorest countries – with 118th rank in the Global Hunger Index. The Sahel region country has other unenviable positions, such as 186th rank in the Human Development Index, 9 out of every 10 citizens living below the poverty line, 350,000 of the population facing acute starvation, 87% of children suffering from malnutrition, one million forcibly displaced people including 6,00000 refugees from various localities and so on.
Chad is one of the world’s poorest countries – with 118th rank in the Global Hunger Index. The Sahel region country has other unenviable positions, such as 186th rank in the Human Development Index, 9 out of every 10 citizens living below the poverty line, 350,000 of the population facing acute starvation, 87% of children suffering from malnutrition, one million forcibly displaced people including 6,00000 refugees from various localities and so on. Amid these unsavoury developments, the World Food Programme (WFP) assistance will immediately be cancelled from next month onwards due to funding shortfalls.
WFP is in need of US$140 million to continue with the assistance program for the next six months. Without the funds, the life of 0.6 million refugees will be in turmoil. The already dwindling program had failed to reach the majority of refugees in the year 2022, resulting in increased violence in the camps last year. Therefore, to address the situation that may worsen otherwise, WFP is planning to narrow down the program’s coverage to the poorest of the poor, limiting aid to 30% of the population who are most in need.
Of the 0.6 million people who desperately need assistance, only 2,70,000 could be assisted in the month of April as per UN’s estimates. This too will go into complete suspension in May. About 24 % of refugees have arrived in the camps since 2018. The immigrants are majorly from Sudan, the Central African Republic (CAR), Cameroon, and Nigeria. The newly arrived groups raise the vulnerability to food insecurity and elevate the dependence on humanitarian assistance.
Chad is hosting the highest refugee population in West and Central Africa. Growing unrest in neighbouring Sudan is intensifying the challenge. The proportion of malnourished children in the camps is 65 percent. Over 1.9 million people are food insecure. Despite refugees being the foremost priority, the cutting down of assistance to them is really a catastrophic measure. It signifies the requirement of contributions from Government donors as well as from private individuals keeping in mind the level of strain and trouble that the upcoming lean season may bring.
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http://trendsnafrica.com/state-of-emergency-declared-in-chad/
It is the fourth consecutive year of severe food insecurity in Chad. UNHCR is aiming for the self-sustainability of all Chad refugees where they must be provided with land plots. But the current condition is such that proper food availability is seemingly a far cry. The refugees are already affected by climate shocks. Last year, the region suffered the most devastating floods in three decades. High inflation is another factor the country is facing. Underaged marriage, child labour, and the drafting of children into armed groups are other side effects of massive poverty and destitution.
