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SITUATION OVERVIEW
Weeks of severe rains in Chad have hit all 23 provinces leaving at least 340 people dead and 1.5 million affected since July. The situation continues to evolve very rapidly with the number of people affected rising from 960,000 to more than 1,495,000 (over 266,000 households) in the last week alone. Torrential rainfall has caused rivers to overflow, displacing communities and disrupting access to essential services. As of 10 September, the government has recorded 164,000 houses destroyed, five million hectares inundated (including 400,000 hectares of croplands, of which 259,000 are completely destroyed), and 66,700 livestock washed away. This number will continue to increase as assessments continue.
The Chad National Flood Management Committee has classified the 23 provinces into three categories, of which 12 are a priority. These are Tandjile, Mayo Kebbi Est, Logone Oriental, Lac, Guera, Salamat, Ennedi Ouest, Batha, Borkou, Mandoul, Ennedi Est, and Tibesti.
First and foremost, affected populations are in urgent need of food, health, water sanitation and hygiene services, shelter, and protection. As displaced populations settle in temporary accommodations, these needs are expected to evolve, requiring the implementation of shortterm social protection mechanisms . Ultimately, these floods will have a long-lasting impact on the most vulnerable, as food production is likely to decline significantly, along with the availability of safe water, sanitation, and safe housing.
Forecasts predict continued heavy rains and flooding across much of West and Central Africa in September, with a high concentration of rainfall in Chad. Historically, torrential and extended periods of rains were an expected phenomenon every 10 years in Chad. These are now occurring every two to five years due to the climate crisis impacting most countries in the Sahel belt. In addition, Chad is also exposed to riverine floods. As a result, the mounting of the waters of the Chari and Logone dams may result in catastrophic floods with devastating impacts. While saving lives is essential, humanitarian action must be combined with climate adaptation and mitigation solutions at scale. These efforts to build climate resilience must be locally led by the communities and government authorities and supported by local humanitarian partners such as the Red Cross of Chad (Croix-Rouge du Tchad).