Kaltouma's story: How cash assistance is bringing hope to Sudanese refugees in Chad
Fleeing to survive
When violence erupted in her village of Tile, Kaltouma had only a few hours to make an impossible decision: flee or risk losing her life and those of her children.
With her four children, she left her home behind, abandoning everything she owned.
Like Kaltouma, hundreds of thousands of people have crossed the border into eastern Chad since the conflict in Sudan began in April 2023.
According to the latest figures, more than 931,000 newly arrived Sudanese refugees and over 400,000 Chadian returnees have been registered in the provinces of Ouaddaï, Wadi Fira, Sila and Ennedi Est, making Chad one of the main host countries for this regional crisis.
Rebuilding a life in exile
After a long and dangerous journey, Kaltouma and her children were transferred to the Kouchaguine-Moura refugee camp.
Like many displaced families, they are trying to rebuild their lives amid food insecurity, water shortages and rising prices of essential goods.
Their situation became even more difficult when Kaltouma became the victim of a burglary.
“Everything in my home was looted,” she recalls.
Already devastated by the loss of relatives in Sudan, this latest hardship further weakened her family's ability to cope.
Meeting urgent needs through cash assistance
In response to growing humanitarian needs, the Chad Red Cross, with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), launched a cash assistance programme targeting the most vulnerable refugees.
This first distribution under the project enabled 4,000 households to receive financial support in Adré, Farchana, Arkoum and Kouchaguine-Moura.
Cash assistance allows families to prioritize and address their most pressing needs, whether it's food, clothing, healthcare or other essential expenses.
For Kaltouma, the support represents much more than financial assistance; it offers an opportunity to care for her children and regain a sense of dignity after years of hardship.
'My Children and I are very happy'
“I would like to thank the Chad Red Cross for providing us with this financial assistance today. My children and I are very happy. This support will allow me to buy sorghum and clothes for my children.”
In the refugee camps of eastern Chad, where families live with constant uncertainty, every form of support matters. The cash assistance provided by the Chad Red Cross and the IFRC not only helps vulnerable households meet their immediate needs, but also strengthens their ability to cope with daily challenges.
As refugee arrivals continue and humanitarian needs remain immense, the Chad Red Cross and the IFRC continue to support people affected by the crisis, including host communities that have shown remarkable solidarity despite facing challenges of their own.
For Kaltouma, this assistance is above all a message of hope: a reminder that she is not alone in her struggle to build a better future for her children.
Learn more about the Sudan complex emergency appeal
Read more articles and listen to podcasts about Sudan:
'Now I've lost everything': Conflict in Sudan has forced millions to seek safety in neighbouring countries, where they face an uncertain future.
Credits:
Article and photos by Prince Franklin NGBABA
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