Located in the province of Sila, in eastern Chad, the Zabout camp is at the gates of Sudan. Since the beginning of the conflict in this neighboring country in April 2023, Sudanese have fled their country and arrived at the camp on foot or by donkey.
Despite the mobilization of both national and humanitarian actors, living conditions are extremely precarious. Most refugees are women and children, many extremely vulnerable. The resources available are insufficient to meet basic needs for food, clean water, medical care, and shelter.
ALIMA and Alerte Santé have built a health center that provides primary health care to children and adults, monitors pregnant women, and supports childbirth. Mental health care is essential.
Healing the Wounds of Exile
Yaya, a Sudanese refugee, is receiving mental health support at the Zabout camp’s health center. For many people like him, who have endured extremely traumatic experiences, both at home in Sudan and during their flight to Chad, psychological support is essential to rebuild their lives.
“I’m Sudanese, from Kodjo Bogol in the Farbaranga department. When the conflict broke out in Sudan, all the surrounding villages had fled to Chad, except for ours. We secured our fields and gardens with enclosures. One of our brothers had simply tried to chase away the animals that were destroying his field, and they immediately broke his leg with a gun. (…) After a brief discussion, we decided to leave Sudan.”
Yaya and his children, who have not attended school since their forced departure from Sudan, have benefited from family therapy. After three sessions of active listening and support, they met families facing similar situations to share their experiences together and get better support.
Every day, Yaya visits the health center to share the benefits of psychological care with the other patients.
Gédéon Balamto, a clinical psychologist for ALIMA in Zabout camp’s health center, takes care of Sudanese refugees who have fled the conflict in their country.
“The role of the psychologist is to help people in distress to regain hope, to rebuild themselves. This work is important in the sense that we design personalised therapy. The care we offer to these people is medico-psychological: psychosocial support, individual consultations, etc.”
The invisible burden of diabetes during exile
Kaltouma, a Sudanese refugee, suffers from diabetes, a chronic disease particularly difficult to manage in the context of a humanitarian crisis.
“When we fled Sudan, I suffered a lot on the journey. I ran out of medication, and swelling appeared on both my feet. I also had a sore and painful wound on my leg.
Just after arriving at the camp, I went to the ALIMA health center. I received treatment and was then sent to the hospital in Goz Beida, where I had surgery [on my diabetic foot]. I now feel much better.
Whenever I see signs of complications, such as severe pain, palpitations, or headaches, I go straight to the ALIMA center for treatment.”
Giving birth in a refugee camp
Khamissa is a refugee in the Zabout camp. She was followed by ALIMA throughout her ninth pregnancy until the birth of her child.
“We fled the conflict in Sudan. Soon after arriving at the camp, I became pregnant. I started my first prenatal consultation at the ALIMA health center.
I told the midwives that my first delivery had been by cesarean section. They advised me to continue the regular follow-up visits at the health center, which I did until they referred me to the hospital in Goz Beida.
After giving birth there, ALIMA took me back to the Zabout health center for monitoring, before being discharged home. I am very grateful to ALIMA, who took care of me from the beginning of my pregnancy until my baby was born.”
In the maternity ward of the district hospital in Goz Beida, eastern Chad, ALIMA’s team of midwives supports pregnant women until they give birth, particularly those with high-risk pregnancies.
Between the beginning of January and the end of August 2025, over 32,000 patients were treated thanks to the commitment of the ALIMA and Alerte Santé teams in Chad.
This project is made possible thanks to humanitarian funding from the European Union.
Photo credits: Moctar Ali Tondi – AFROTO / ALIMA
