Lake Chad’s displaced families appeal for a life with dignity
By Augustin Zusanne with inputs from the non-governmental organization, APSELPA
It’s been more than a year since thousands of displaced families fled conflict in Lake Chad and found refuge in Chad’s Hadjer Lamis Province. But they are still struggling to get by, with no or limited access to food and essential services.
Halimé Hisseini – a mother of five who found refuge in Doumboulki village – is one of many family heads appealing for dignified solutions to their situation.
“Displaced people are suffering enormously, especially women and children,” she said.
“We are asking the Government and humanitarian organizations for support so that we can live with dignity.”
Ahmat Djidda, father of eight and Chief of N'Djilam-Abkhider site for displaced people, said: “The temporary shelters we built are already falling apart. We need food, clean water, access to healthcare and education. We are forced to drink water from the marsh.”
These families are also finding it difficult to earn a livelihood.
Halimé, who had been a farmer, explains: “Since we were displaced, my health has worsened. I can no longer work as I did before. And here, I don’t even have access to farmland.”
Needs continue to grow
When Halimé arrived, the administrative head of Karal subprefecture distributed food, and a non-governmental organization (NGO), APSELPA, provided displaced families with soap, mats, clothes and buckets. But no additional assistance has been provided since then. Needs keep growing and it’s difficult to keep pace with new arrivals.
Since October 2024, more than 33,000 displaced people have arrived in a region with 200,000 residents, increasing the population by 16.5 per cent.
According to a March 2025 study on food vulnerability, more than 216,000 people in Hadjer Lamis Province were experiencing severe food insecurity. Of those people, 185,140 live in Dagana Department, which is home to many of the most recently displaced families.
For Halimé, the priority needs are clear: “We lack water and food. There is no school for our children; they are scattered and can no longer study.”
Access is a challenge
The displaced families are spread across nine small locations that have no health centres, schools or markets. Depending on the site, the nearest health facility is between 2 and 4 km away. In some cases, the closest structure is more than 30 km away. There is no ambulance available.
Makeshift shelters are extremely fragile and can no longer withstand harsh weather. Sites including Djogala, Guité, Karkaraye and N’Djilam-Boukar are difficult to access, which worsens the situation.
The severity of the situation was confirmed during a joint visit in October 2025 by APSELPA, the Ministry of Social Action, Solidarity and Humanitarian Affairs, the International Organization for Migration, the Chadian Red Cross and OCHA.
Durable solutions
Returning home is not a viable option for displaced people, as insecurity prevails in their villages.
“We used to make a living from fishing and farming,” said Moussa Paul Kawiyou, a fisherman. “Today, the fishing areas have become too dangerous. Anyone who goes there risks being attacked or killed.”
Moussa and his family fled their village about a year ago, when armed men attacked a neighbouring community.
Everyone we spoke with expressed the same concerns. The circumstances of their escape have left deep psychological wounds.
Mahamat Ahmat Younous, APSELPA’s Country Director, called for urgent action for a durable solution:
“What is happening in Karal and Mani is not only a humanitarian crisis, it also challenges our collective responsibility. Displaced people are not waiting for assessments. They need concrete, lasting solutions that will restore their dignity. They must regain hope.”
A growing security crisis
Long confined to Lac Province, in the Lake Chad basin area, the security crisis has now spread to new areas in Chad. Deadly attacks have forced more than 30,000 people to flee towards Hadjer Lamis Province in south-west Chad, a region already fragile and ill-equipped to absorb such an influx.
Despite the scale of needs in Karal, Mani and the wider Hadjer Lamis Province, displaced families still hope to rebuild their lives. With adequate resources they could regain access to water, safe shelter, education for their children and dignified livelihoods.
Since 2024, the Regional Humanitarian Fund for West and Central Africa has allocated about US$11 million to local NGOs, enabling them to deliver rapid assistance to the most vulnerable communities. However, needs far exceed available resources.
Chad is among the most underfunded emergencies – this year it received only 21 per cent of the appealed $1.45 billion.
You can help fund life-saving assistance with your contribution.