Sudanese women in refugee camps in eastern Chad have organized informal support networks to address psychological distress stemming from the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The groups have formed in response to a lack of formal mental healthcare resources for the large refugee population, many of whom report experiencing or witnessing violence, according to accounts documented by Al Jazeera.
The conflict, which began in April 2023, has displaced millions of people, with many fleeing to neighboring countries like Chad. In camps such as Tulum in eastern Chad, women have created spaces to discuss their experiences.
Basma, a refugee who fled the city of el-Fasher, is a member of one such group. She told Al Jazeera that she and her sister were intercepted by militias allied with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) while attempting to escape. “They held me and my sister for five days and tortured us,” Basma stated.
The situation in el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has been a focal point of the conflict. The RSF took control of the city in late October 2023 following an extended siege. During the campaign for the city, human rights organizations and witnesses reported widespread violence. Amnesty International accused RSF fighters of committing war crimes in Darfur, and the United Nations aid chief, Tom Fletcher, described el-Fasher as a “crime scene.” In response to these reports, the U.N. Human Rights Council has launched an investigation into alleged atrocities in the city.
In Chad, humanitarian officials report a severe shortage of mental health professionals to serve the refugee population. According to reports from the region, there is only one psychiatrist available in this part of Chad, along with a limited number of psychologists affiliated with aid organizations.
The support circles are often led by fellow refugees. Fatimah Fadul, who identified herself as the president of a victims’ support group, facilitates sessions aimed at helping women process their experiences. Fadul told Al Jazeera that a primary goal is to counter the cultural stigma that can prevent survivors of sexual violence from speaking out.
“As Sudanese, we face the stigma: mothers at home pressure the girl, telling her not to speak or to keep silent about the rape,” Fadul said. “We raise awareness and encourage our sisters and our mothers to speak up about rape in order to claim their rights. When you stay silent, you inflict internal psychological harm, leading to illnesses.”
Other refugees have shared accounts of displacement and family separation. Zaina Ibrahim, another Sudanese refugee in Chad, said, “Many members of my family are presumed dead. My uncles, my mother and children are all missing.”
These peer-led groups currently represent one of the primary avenues for psychological support available to many Sudanese women in the camps as formal resources remain insufficient to meet the scale of the need.
