Women in Chad refugee camps forced to trade sex for survival after fleeing Sudan war

Many are coerced into sexual relations with aid workers and local men in exchange for food, money, or basic necessities.

This exploitation emerges out of desperation; women face dire consequences if they refuse such offers, risking their survival in already challenging circumstances.

One 27-year-old Sudanese woman, who fled to Chad with her five children, spoke to The Associated Press about her harrowing experience.

She described being coerced into a sexual relationship with an aid worker in exchange for money to buy essentials. "The children were crying. We ran out of food," she said. “He abused my situation.”

The woman, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, explained that the aid worker promised her cash in exchange for sex. He gave me about $12 each time, she said. After giving birth to a child she claims was his, he provided her with a one-time payment of around $65 but denied paternity.

The man was a Sudanese labourer for Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, she added.

Another woman shared a similar story, detailing how two Chadian men at the site repeatedly contacted her after she applied for a job, offering employment in exchange for sex. Both women said they refused the proposition.

A Sudanese psychologist reports numerous accounts of women trading sex for support, leading to unwanted pregnancies and a cycle of abuse and neglect.

“They were psychologically destroyed. Imagine a woman getting pregnant without a husband amid this situation,” The psychologist said. "They came to me because they couldn’t get an abortion for fear of being shunned by their communities."

Despite the existence of safe spaces and reporting mechanisms established by humanitarian organisations to protect women from exploitation, many refugee women remain vulnerable.

One woman, who had a child as a result of a sexual relationship with an aid worker, said she feared reporting him for fear he would turn her over to the police. “He threatened me,” she said,

A 19-year-old refugee recounted being propositioned for sex by her employer in exchange for a raise. The distressing reality is that many women feel they must sacrifice their dignity to survive, often leading to further victimisation.

Local authorities, including Ali Mahamat Sebey, the head official in Adre, have denied allegations of abuse by local police, asserting that officers are prohibited from entering the camps. Sebey acknowledged, however, that the growing number of refugees makes it difficult to ensure the safety of every individual.