Sudanese Refugees Flee to Chad: Over 20,000 People Seek Shelter Amid Darfur Violence

Hundreds of Sudanese refugees, mostly women and children, are crossing a small stream to safety in neighboring Chad from the West Darfur province. At least 20,000 refugees have taken shelter in the makeshift camp in Koufroun, a Chadian border village that’s a few hundred meters away from West Darfur. Darfur and the capital, Khartoum, are among the worst-hit provinces in Sudan’s conflict. Most of the refugees came from Tendelti, a town 20 kilometers away from Koufroun, where there has been intense fighting between the army chief’s forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The refugees endure the Sahelian heat, with some seeking shelter under huge acacia trees, and others using garments and veils for shade. Humanitarian workers are overwhelmed by the demand, and aid workers fear the situation could become catastrophic.