© UNHCR/Victorien Ndakass

Chad is a State party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees/the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, and a State party to the 1969 Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa.

The status and treatment of refugees in Chad is governed under International Law. The national institution for asylum is the Commission Nationale d’Accueil, de Réinsertion des Réfugiés et des Rapatriés (CNARR). Refugees arriving in camps and hosting villages of Chad are granted prima facie refugee status. In Ndjamena, first instance Refugee Status Determination (RSD) is conducted by CNARR Sub-Commission of Eligibility, and appeals are conducted by a Sub-Commission for Appeals within the CNARR. There are no restrictions on refugees’ freedom of movement within Chad. However refugees must obtain a Sauf-Conduit issued by the CNARR in order to travel within Chad.

News and stories about Chad

Chad farming project empowers Sudanese refugees and locals

Planting, weeding and harvesting together helps integrate Sudanese refugees into local villages, and boosts women's independence.

16 Aug 2016

Chad fishing project gives Nigerian refugees a lifeline

UNHCR backed programme benefits 100 Nigerian refugees, giving them food, a small income and something to do.

5 Apr 2016

Building a future through education in Chad

Young Sudanese refugees are being integrated into Chad's school system, with the support of UNHCR and Educate A Child Programme.

14 Dec 2015

UNHCR condemns attack on displaced in western Chad, pledges more help

UNHCR deplores the violence and mourns the loss of life caused by suicide attacks at the weekend in the western Chad town of Baga Sola

13 Oct 2015

Love at First Flight: A Nigerian refugee finds shelter and a wife in Chad

Moussa set off to visit family in the northern Nigerian town of Baga. He ended up fleeing for his life, seeking shelter in neighbouring Chad and finding a young wife.

3 Mar 2015

More than 7,000 flee to western Chad to escape attacks on key town in Nigeria

UNHCR teams in Chad are at the border and seeking information on the new arrivals and their needs. The newly arrived are staying with local communities.

9 Jan 2015

Liquid treasure: The challenge of providing drinking water in a new refugee camp

The recommended minimum in an emergency situation is 15 litres per person per day, but in Chad's Ab Gadam camp, it's a struggle to reach 10 litres per person a day.

4 Jul 2013

UNHCR completes relocation of thousands of Darfur refugees to Chad camp

UNHCR and its partners move more than 7,000 people from Tissi at the border to Ab Gadam camp in the past month, mostly women, children and older refugees.

14 Jun 2013

UNHCR starts moving displaced families from Darfur to safer areas of Chad

UNHCR pre-registers some 23,000 Sudanese refugees who have crossed into south-east Chad. A further 16,000 Chadians have also come across the border.

23 Apr 2013

Displaced Chadians rush home before rain

UNHCR is organizing as many convoys as possible to bring displaced Chadians in the east back to their villages before the rainy season starts.

6 Jun 2011

Q&A: Encouraging talking in class by connecting refugee and US school children

The US-based Darfur Dream Team is supporting education in camps in eastern Chad while creating bonds between refugee and American school children.

20 Jan 2011

Flooding in Chad affects 150,000 people, including refugees

Torrential rains and flooding have affected close to 150,000 people in Chad, including 70,000 who have become homeless.

17 Sep 2010

UNHCR transfers hundreds of Central African refugees to Chad refugee camp

UNHCR begins transporting some 1,100 newly arrived refugees from Central African Republic to a camp in southern Chad, where they can receive assistance.

7 May 2010

UNHCR unites refugees and host communities in Chad

Over the past two years, UNHCR has promoted initiatives in southern Chad to help integrate tens of thousands of refugees from Central African Republic into the local community.

9 Mar 2010

Refugees from Darfur call for improved educational facilities in eastern Chad camps

Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad tell a visiting senior UNHCR official they need better educational facilities for their children.

29 Jan 2010

Tackling climate change in eastern Chad

To combat the effects of climate change on 250,000 refugees in eastern Chad, UNHCR is planting hundreds of thousands of trees and carefully managing water supplies.

15 Dec 2009

Verification exercise of Sudanese refugees in Chad proceeds well

To better meet the needs of 250,000 Sudanese civilians in eastern Chad, UNHCR is re-registering and interviewing all refugees in 12 camps

2 Nov 2009

UNHCR condemns killing of government partner in eastern Chad

UNHCR expresses shock at the ambush and killing of a Chadian official working for UNHCR's government counterpart in the volatile east of the country.

27 Oct 2009