The World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have warned in a joined statement Friday that WFP will be forced to make additional cuts to already reduced food assistance to refugees in Chad in April and may have to completely suspend assistance by May without immediate and sustained funding. WFP is appealing for $142.7 million over the next six months to maintain its refugee support program.
Funding shortages have already forced the UN food agency to reduce assistance in recent months. In April, only 270,000 of the 600,000 refugees in Chad will receive assistance. A complete break in assistance to refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) is expected in May. WFP warns a full suspension of aid would be “catastrophic” for the 1 million refugees and displaced persons in the country.
"If there is no more food assistance in May, this will be catastrophic for refugees and host populations alike, as the lean season is fast approaching when we will see a spike in hunger levels. We need to act now to ensure we can continue providing life-saving food assistance," said Pierre Honnorat, WFP Representative in Chad.
Chad is home to over one million forcibly displaced persons, including about 600,000 refugees, mainly from Sudan, the Central African Republic (CAR), Cameroon and Nigeria, and 381,000 internally displaced persons. Of the 600,000 refugees, some 145,000 have arrived in Chad since 2018, and new groups continue to arrive every year; mainly from Sudan - but also from CAR and Nigeria.
The UN agencies says refugees, displaced people, and host communities in Chad, particularly those newly arrived, have been pushed to the limits by the combined effects of growing insecurity, climate shocks, and the rising cost of food which is driving up hunger and malnutrition.
“Government donors, the private sector and individuals need to urgently step up their support so that we can meet critical needs throughout the year and develop durable solutions that will address food aid dependency,” Honnorat said.
The latest assessment missions conducted by WFP and UNHCR in refugee camps and hosting areas have reported a worrying deterioration of refugees' nutrition and food security situation and a high dependence on humanitarian assistance among refugee communities, particularly new arrivals and the most vulnerable groups.
"Despite increasing needs, refugee support programs in Chad are chronically underfunded. Particularly the most vulnerable refugees and those who arrived in recent years struggle to get by and crucially need continued food assistance", warned UNHCR Chad Representative, Laura Lo Castro.
The UN Refugee Agency needs US$172.5 million to continue to provide protection and relief assistance to over a million forcibly displaced persons and their hosts in Chad. So far, just 15% of the funds required by UNHCR have been secured.
The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization. The UN agency, awarded the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, is saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to support people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. The World Food Programme works in over 120 countries and territories. For millions of people worldwide, WFP assistance can make the difference between life and death. The organization is based in Rome.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is a United Nations agency mandated to assist and protect refugees, displaced persons and stateless people. The organization is known by its short name, UN Refugee Agency. UNHCR was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 14, 1950, to provide assistance to refugees from World War II. On January 1, 1951, the UNHCR began its work. Each year, the UN Refugee Agency helps millions of refugees and displaced persons worldwide. UNHCR is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has offices in 134 countries.
Further information
Full text: WFP and UNHCR call for urgent funds to avert more ration cuts to refugees in Chad, WFP / UNHCR press release, published April 14, 2023
https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp-and-unhcr-call-urgent-funds-avert-more-ration-cuts-refugees-chad