Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) has launched an appeal to help thousands of Sudanese who have been forced to flee fighting that erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) April 15 in Khartoum.

CJI partners Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Chad and JRS South Sudan are responding to the humanitarian crisis that has forced over 3.7 million Sudanese to flee within Sudan, and over 800,000 others to seek refuge across borders. 

JRS has launched a program in Chad to protect children of families hosted in Farchana, Gozbeida, Iribi and Guéréda. And in South Sudan, JRS is currently focusing on psychosocial, and information support for refugees who have entered from Khartoum across the main border point into Renk county.

JRS Chad is focusing on the needs of children (under 18), who comprise an estimated 55% of the refugee arrivals; 73% of them are under 12. Special attention is being given to children at risk (unaccompanied or separated from family).

“The effective and efficient protection of children in refugee camps remains a major challenge,” said Denis Codjo Hounzangbe, JRS county director. JRS has identified problems related to malnutrition, forced labour, gender-based violence, abuse and violence against children,” being out of school, children with no birth certificate, among others.

About 30,000 refugees who have entered eastern Chad are from Darfur, “one of the areas of Sudan most affected by violence and where growing instability could force up to 100,000 people to flee to Chad in the coming weeks,” said Hounzangbe.

JRS is working closely with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) “to build the capacity of community members on child protection issues, including safe and ethical referral of child protection cases,” said Hounzangbe. It will also partner with local NGOS specializing in gender-based violence and in the care of child survivors and those who are married or at risk of child marriage.

JRS Chad has also been in contact with local education authorities about accepting refugee children to schools, and is raising awareness about the importance of continuing their education.

In South Sudan, about 43,000 refugees have arrived in the Renk county. They are “exhausted and without enough money to proceed to another destination,” said a report from JRS country director Noelle Fitzpatrick. “JRS seeks to accompany them, providing clear information, listening to their questions and concerns, advocating with, and referring them to relevant authorities and agencies to address key protection issues” and other needs.

JRS is also working with Save the Children and Lutheran World Relief to provide safe spaces for children and youth to play, as well as basic physiotherapy to persons with disabilities.

Since most of the refugees are South Sudanese returnees, the International Office of Migration and UNHCR – under which JRS is operating – has a coordinated response plan to move them to other locations in South Sudan where they can receive support and be integrated into their own family networks and pre-existing settlements.

“Their stay in the transit centre (in Renk) is designed to be very temporary in nature,” said Fitzpatrick, noting that it lacks the infrastructure to support the massive influx of refugees. “The rate of arrival into Renk is such that people cannot be safely accommodated and supported there.”

Fitzpatrick noted that JRS operation in Maban “will have to increase to support the integration,” adding that “a further refugee settlement may be planned by local authorities, depending on the numbers arriving over the next six months.”

JRS Chad noted that even before the recent conflict, Chad– which is facing its fourth consecutive year of severe food insecurity due to droughts-- had already been hosting many refugees. The UNHCR identified 588, 770 refugees and asylum seekers, 50% of them children, living in 13 refugee camps across Chad; most are from Sudan.

South Sudan hosts about 330,000 refugees and asylum-seekers (mostly from Sudan) and has two million internally displaced persons due to conflict, food insecurity and the devastating impact of climate change.

The UN has called for international funding to help feed the refugees and local host populations who are experiencing hunger due to droughts.

Note: This story has been updated to reflect new developments.

Refugee receives rehabilitation support from JRS staff. Photo: JRS Sudan

Family rests in makeshift tent. Photo: JRS Sudan

Sudanese children who fled the war receive childcare from JRS. Photo: JRS Sudan

Dyck and his relatives were among thousands of Sudanese who fled to Renk. Photo: JRS

Child draws as part of an activity provided by JRS staff to children who fled the war in their homeland. Photo: JRS

Sudanese boy steers donkey cart with his family's belongings in Renk, where they sought refuge from the war in Sudan. Photo: JRS