Ahmad 
A United Nations official revealed the presence and circulation of weapons in Sudanese refugee camps in Chad, which increases the exposure of women and girls to violence.
The regions of eastern Chad host more than 620,000 Sudanese refugees out of a total of 2.2 million people who have crossed the border since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan on April 15, 2023.
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, visited Chad from 14 to 18 July to assess the situation in the Ouaddai region, which hosts refugees.
Her office noted in a statement that “the lack of security in the camps, the circulation of weapons, and the presence of armed men increase the exposure of women and girls to various forms of gender-based violence.”
The office explained that United Nations entities have put in place measures to mitigate these risks, including lighting in camps and fuel-saving stoves, but increasing their size requires additional funding.
Nearly 3,200 Sudanese arrive weekly in eastern Chad.
Patten called for an end to sexual violence committed by parties to the conflict in Sudan and to provide funding to support survivors of sexual violence.
Patten explained that she visited eastern Chad “to witness the scale of the crisis resulting from the influx of civilians from Sudan, 90% of whom are women and children.”
During her visit to the refugee camps in Adre and Farchana, Patten met survivors of sexual violence who bravely shared their horrific stories.
The statement indicated that some survivors identified armed men belonging to the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias as the supposed perpetrators.
In a related context, Doctors Without Borders announced that it treated 135 survivors of sexual violence in Sudanese refugee camps in Chad between July and December 2023, where 40% of them were raped by multiple attackers.
Sudan is preparing to form a new government amid continuing conflict and multiple crises