“Aid is Inadequate because No One Consults us.” Perceptions of humanitarian aid in Chad

Chad is a diverse and dynamic place. It is the fifth-largest country in Africa and is rich in gold, uranium, and oil. The country is home to a mixture of languages, ethnicities, and religions, creating a vibrant mosaic. However, it is also marked by protracted humanitarian, economic, and climate crises. At the time of this report’s publication, 6.9 million people need humanitarian assistance.

Chad has welcomed a tremendous number of crisis-affected communities fleeing neighbouring countries. Rising insecurity and military operations have displaced and disrupted the lives of refugees from Nigeria since 2014. Internally displaced people (IDPs) and host communities in the Lake Chad region experience high levels of food insecurity, especially during the rainy seasons as violence and displacement reduce access to markets and income-generating activities. People from Cameroon have fled violent ethnic clashes and settled in Chari Baguirmi, a region in western Chad. The southern and eastern parts of Chad are impacted by crises in neighbouring countries, and host many people from Sudan and the Central African Republic. In 2023, Chad welcomed an additional influx of refugees from Sudan.

Communities in Chad are highly vulnerable to climate threats. Lake Chad, one of the country’s greatest sources of farming and fishing and a water source for herds of cattle and goats, has lost more than 90% of its original surface due to extreme weather patterns. In 2022, floods in Chad displaced more than 1.4 million people.