Chad’s 900,000 Sudanese refugees face connectivity gaps

Chad now hosts over 1.5 million refugees, making it Central Africa’s largest refugee-hosting nation. Since 2023, more than 900,000 Sudanese refugees have crossed into eastern border settlements like Farchana, fleeing conflict back home. But connectivity in these remote camps remains patchy at best.

Satellites and towers reach the border

UNHCR and the International Telecommunication Union are pushing connectivity into Chad’s eastern settlements through partnerships with local operators Airtel Chad and Moov. Connected learning hubs are sprouting up in major camps, while SES’s O3b mPOWER satellite constellation extends coverage to settlements that ground networks can’t reach. The infrastructure push addresses a stark reality: many refugee settlements sit six hours or more from the nearest health facility. For medical emergencies, a phone call often marks the difference between life and death.

Physical barriers block digital access

Yet refugees with disabilities face compounded obstacles in accessing these new networks. Connected learning centres might lack wheelchair ramps. Touchscreen interfaces don’t accommodate visual impairments. Even when digital infrastructure reaches a settlement, physical barriers keep many refugees with disabilities from using it. Those who do gain access often lack credit to power assistive apps or maintain contact with healthcare providers via messaging platforms.

Credit fills the service gaps

Phone credit becomes critical infrastructure for refugees with disabilities in Chad’s remote settlements. A woman with diabetes uses credit to send blood sugar readings to a distant clinic. A father with mobility limitations coordinates wheelchair repairs through WhatsApp. These connections replace services that simply don’t exist in settlements hours from urban centres. Credit transforms phones into medical monitoring devices, educational tools, and financial service platforms. Infrastructure gaps persist across Chad’s refugee settlements, but targeted support can bridge connectivity divides. Apply for phone credit if you’re a refugee with disabilities who needs digital access to essential services.