WFP and UNHCR call for urgent funds to avert more ration cuts to refugees in Chad
N'DJAMENA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, warned today that WFP will be forced to make additional cuts to already dwindling food assistance to refugees in April and may face a complete suspension of assistance in May 2023 - without immediate and sustained funding.
Refugees, displaced people, and host communities in Chad, particularly those newly arrived, have been pushed to the limits by the combined effects of growing insecurity, climate shocks, and the rising cost of food which is driving up hunger and malnutrition.
WFP urgently needs US$142.7 million over the next six months to maintain its refugee assistance programme and provide life-saving food assistance to crisis-affected communities. Significant funding shortfalls have already forced WFP to cut food assistance in recent months. In April, WFP can only assist 270,300 of the 600,000 refugees in the country, before a complete break in assistance to refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) is expected in May.
“If there is no more food assistance in May, this will be catastrophic for refugees and host populations alike, as the .lean season is fast approaching when we will see a spike in hunger levels
Most recently, there has been a 65 percent rise in the number of malnourished children admitted to treatment programmes in camps in the East of the country.
UNHCR also needs US$172.5 million to continue to provide protection and relief assistance to over a million forcibly displaced persons and their hosts in Chad. So far, just 15% of the funds required by UNHCR have been secured.
WFP
