Funding has run out for programs that assist Sudanese refugees fleeing conflict, creating overcrowded and unsanitary conditions at border areas in Chad. Significant gaps in funding has meant that long-term refugees in these contexts are now providing limited aid to newly arrived refugees alongside limited international organization and NGO presence.
Date: 12/25
Region: Africa
Country: Chad
Topic: Refugees & Displacement
Policy Lens: Migration & Mobility
Entry Type: Operational Impact
Additional Context: According to a UNHCR spokesperson, U.S. cuts in foreign aid are a major reason for the gap in funding for Sudanese refugees in Chad. In 2024, U.S. contributions of $68.4 million represented 32% of UNHCR’s total budget. In 2025, U.S. contributions dropped to $35.6 million, about 10% of the total budget, which has risen along with humanitarian needs. Since April 2023, more than 900,000 Sudanese refugees have arrived in eastern Chad, with new arrivals every day.
Researcher Note: Though most programs were fully terminated at border sites following the initial stop-work order in February 2025, according to Reuters reporting as of December 2025, the World Food Programme restarted limited food distributions to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and children under age 2 to prevent malnutrition.