Chad

Chad, in Central Africa, has one of the highest levels of hunger in the world - 66.2 percent of its population of 15.5 million live in severe poverty. It is ranked 187th out of 189 countries in the 2019 Human Development Index.

Conflict and the climate crisis exacerbate hunger and poverty in Chad. Surrounded by countries at war, it also suffers from environmental degradation and rapid desertification. The people in Chad are among the most affected by the global climate breakdown.

Many depend on farming and livestock for their livelihoods but advancing agricultural practices is challenging as rain patterns are changing and droughts are frequent. This places even more strain on vulnerable families living in the Sahelian belt. Around 40 percent of children aged under five suffer stunting, according to the World Bank, with low height for their age caused by chronic malnutrition. Pregnant and breastfeeding women's health is poor, with high maternal mortality rates due to inadequate access to health services. Access to basic education is also limited. 

The presence of hundreds of thousands of refugees who have fled conflict in neighboring countries has put additional pressure on Chad’s already limited resources.

Displaced people, and other poor communities, in the Lake Chad Basin, the east and south of the country are dependent on humanitarian assistance for survival. According to the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan, 4.3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, of whom only 2 million are targeted with adequate support.