Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has revealed that acute malnutrition among pregnant and breastfeeding women in eastern Chad has exceeded the emergency threshold, raising alarm over the worsening humanitarian situation in the region.

Between January and June 2026, MSF screened 5,785 women in Adré, a border town heavily impacted by the Sudanese refugee influx. Findings showed that 21.2% (1,225 women) suffered from moderate to severe acute malnutrition, surpassing the 15% level that defines a critical emergency.

Refugee Influx Strains Resources

Since conflict erupted in Sudan in April 2023, over 930,000 refugees have crossed into Chad, with more than 700,000 arriving through Adré. This mass displacement has put significant pressure on food supplies, healthcare, and water access in one of Chad’s poorest areas.

MSF highlighted that the crisis affects not only refugees but also local host communities. Approximately 75% of the malnourished women identified were from these communities, who face similar food shortages yet remain excluded from general aid distributions.

Rising Malnutrition and Healthcare Challenges

  • Admissions for acute malnutrition at MSF-supported centres in Adré increased by 30% between January and April 2026 compared to the previous year.
  • In Metché hospital, admissions rose by 75% during the first half of 2026.
  • Over 10,000 refugees are expected to be relocated from Adré to Metché camp by September, further straining humanitarian services.

MSF also reported disruptions in nutrition programs due to funding shortages, leading to shortages of supplies for treating moderate acute malnutrition since May and June.

Water Scarcity Exacerbates Health Risks

Access to safe water remains critically low, with only 8 litres available per person daily—far below the 20-litre emergency minimum. This scarcity has forced families to rely on unsafe water sources, causing diarrheal cases to rise sharply from 634 in the first half of 2025 to 1,044 in 2026.

Calls for Urgent Action

MSF urges international donors to increase funding and calls on authorities and humanitarian agencies to ensure adequate food, water, and healthcare for both refugees and host communities before further relocations occur.

"Refugees arrive physically shattered and malnourished into host communities already struggling with poverty and limited aid," said Léa Ledru, MSF Project Coordinator in Adré. "Relocation only shifts the burden without resolving the underlying resource shortages."