N’Djaména, Chad, 20 September 2023 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the European Union (EU) have concluded a partnership to improve access to healthcare and protection for vulnerable populations, including internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Lac province of Chad. The program has developed the capacity of local health centers in terms of intensive nutritional care and maternity, and has enabled the creation of safe spaces dedicated to women and young girls.
Since June 2022, the EU has supplemented these activities by contributing 3 million euros, enabling IRC to reach more than 130,000 people throughout the one-year program, including 116,500 internally displaced people. More than 5,000 malnourished children have been successfully treated—a remarkable achievement. Thanks to the project’s flexible funding mechanism, IRC Chad was also able to promptly respond to the Sudan crisis and deliver health, nutrition, and protection services to more than 18,000 refugees fleeing the conflict since April 2023.
Internal instability, climate change, and global factors like the conflict in Sudan have led to a rise in poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Currently, over 1.9 million people, which is 11% of the total population, are experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity. The effects of climate change can already be seen in the very variable food production, as poor harvests in 2022 make the country more reliant on food imports. Flooding is also a persistent risk in the country, affecting more than 1 million people in 2022.
The violent non-state actors presence and military operations in Lac province have significantly disrupted humanitarian actions since 2017. More than 8,000 clients have been delocalized, and some areas remained inaccessible for months due to security reasons. In addition, tensions in the country have increased since the 2022 elections were postponed in 2024.
IRC Chad has benefited from EU funding in the Lac province since 2017, allowing it to reinforce local health facilities. Alongside healthcare initiatives, the IRC created safe spaces where more than 7,500 girls and women participated in awareness-raising sessions on gender equality, child protection, and gender-based violence. As a result, many could access the services they needed to regain control of their lives, such as psychological support, case management, and referrals for medical care or legal assistance.
Aleksandra Roulet-Cimprič, IRC Chad Director, said:
“Chad hosts today the most significant number of refugees in Central Africa. More than half a million people are internally displaced, and according to the country's humanitarian response plan, 7.6 million people require humanitarian assistance. EU contribution at various humanitarian levels is essential to provide basic services to the most vulnerable populations. Considering Chad's critical situation, encompassing economic, political, and social challenges, and the protracted, forgotten nature of the crisis, EU support has never been more crucial.”
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The IRC Chad has delivered vital humanitarian programming since 2004 in response to the refugee crisis from neighboring Darfur. Today, the IRC works across the country to deliver integrated interventions in health, including reproductive health, nutrition, and water and sanitation; women’s protection and empowerment, focusing on fighting against gender-based violence; and economic recovery, emphasizing cash transfer and income-generating activities.
The International Rescue Committee partners with the European Union to provide life-saving support to people caught in conflict and disasters around the world. Our work funded by the EU enables people to survive, recover and rebuild their lives.