IOM and IHP Expand Humanitarian Hub in Chad to Aid 220,000 Amid Sudan Crisis

Farchana/ Geneva, 5 March 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Humanitarian Partnership (IHP) completed this week the expansion of the humanitarian hub in Farchana, Chad, in a move that will enable as many as 220,000 more people impacted by the escalating crisis in Sudan to receive help.

The expanded operational and accommodation capacity at the hub will strengthen cross-border interagency humanitarian operations for Sudan, the world’s worst displacement crisis. The expansion comes at a critical time, as the humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to worsen, with the urgent need for food, shelter, healthcare, and protection at an all-time high. According to recent figures, nearly nine million people in the Darfur region alone require immediate assistance.

“With the strengthened cross-border operations, IOM has already reached over 82,000 people in Darfur with critical humanitarian aid, and with the expansion of the Farchana hub, we are poised to provide life-saving assistance to an additional 220,000 people in the coming months,” said Pascal Reyntjens, IOM Chief of Mission in Chad. “The hub also enables greater collaboration between humanitarian actors, development agencies, and the government, which is essential for a comprehensive and sustainable response.”

Since April 2023, more than 11.5 million people have been displaced within Sudan, and an additional 3.5 million have fled across borders, including an estimated 930,000 people who have crossed from Sudan into Chad. The crisis has created unprecedented humanitarian needs in Sudan and neighbouring countries, and the inter-agency humanitarian hub in Farchana, established jointly by IOM and IHP, plays a critical role in coordinating and supporting these cross-border efforts.

The expansion includes office space, accommodations and other infrastructure that will help increase the operational capabilities of humanitarian organisations working in hard-to-reach field locations in Sudan. These enhancements enable international and national Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and UN agencies to further scale up cross-border operations from Chad into Darfur, where humanitarian needs are rapidly escalating.

“Establishing a functional compound in eastern Chad was no small feat. The harsh climate, logistical constraints, and remote location pushed our team to its limits,” said Bram Krieps, IHP team leader during the 2024 operation. “But through the strength of IHP’s partnership and the determination of our experts, we turned a challenging environment into a secure and operational base that supports humanitarian cross-border efforts on the ground.”

Note to editor

The Farchana humanitarian hub, established in February 2024 with generous support from the governments of Luxembourg, Sweden and Germany through the IHP mechanism, serves as a vital coordination centre for 26 international and national NGOs and UN agencies facilitating cross-border aid delivery into the Darfur region of Sudan. Since its inception, the hub has supported 13 UN agencies, 31 international NGOs, one national NGO, and a government partner in their efforts to reach those most in need.

Managed by IOM, the expanded humanitarian hub is part of a network of 17 inter-agency humanitarian hubs. These hubs, located across four countries, provide essential office, warehousing and accommodation space for over 1,660 humanitarian personnel, playing a crucial role in facilitating coordinated responses to humanitarian crises worldwide.

For further information, please contact:

From IOM:

In Chad: Christina van Hooreweghe,  iomchadpublicinfo@iom.int

In Sudan: Lisa George, lgeorge@iom.int

In Cairo: Joe Lowry, jlowry@iom.int

In Geneve: Kennedy Okoth, kokoth@iom.int

From IHP:

Max Steffen, max.steffen@cgdsi.lu