The border between Chad and Sudan has long been a turbulent space where conflict and violence in either country has often forced populations across the border to seek safety. Since April 2023, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan has forced large numbers of Sudanese civilians to flee their homes in search of safety. While all refugees share the need for emergency assistance, research has shown that women and girls encounter specific challenges accessing food and nutrition, sexual and reproductive healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene, and maternal healthcare and face higher risks of, for example, gender-based violence. The current crisis in Sudan has also brought the situation of displaced women and children to light.

SIPRI and its Chadian partner, BUCOFORE, carried out field research in four refugee camps in eastern Chad, focusing on the situation of Sudanese refugee women and girls. This policy brief presents the main findings of the research, which was gathered via perception surveys, qualitative interviews and focus group discussions. The research finds critical gaps in aid provision, protection and gender-sensitive programming and demonstrates that the infrastructure in place is not currently gender responsive. The humanitarian response remains severely underfunded, further exacerbating these challenges and limiting support and opportunities for those in need.

This policy brief, and the French translation, are products of the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme, funded by United Kingdom International Development from the UK government.

The Arabic translation of the policy brief is funded by the British government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through its Research Commissioning Centre (RCC), which is part of the Global Research and Technology Development portfolio. The RCC is managed by 3ie and the University of Birmingham. 

The policy brief summarizes the main findings of research that is presented in the SIPRI report ‘Through their Eyes: Experiences of Displaced Sudanese Women and Girls in Eastern Chad’, published in March 2025. Click here to download the report.