UAE allocates US$8M to support Chad’s response to El Niño-driven food crisis
The funding is intended to help Chad address the immediate and longer-term consequences of climate-related pressures affecting food availability, agricultural production and household livelihoods.
CHAD – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has allocated US$8 million through the UAE Aid Agency to support Chad as the country responds to food-security challenges and humanitarian pressures associated with the El Niño climate phenomenon.
The funding was announced on 15 September 2026 under the directives of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The funding is intended to support communities most affected by food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition while strengthening their capacity to withstand climate-related shocks.
According to the UAE Aid Agency, changing weather patterns, rising temperatures and water scarcity are placing additional pressure on agricultural production, food availability and livelihoods in vulnerable communities.
Dr Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, said the response would combine immediate humanitarian assistance with measures to strengthen resilience and support recovery.
The approach is designed to address urgent food and nutrition needs while helping affected communities better cope with future climate-related disruptions.
The announcement comes as Chad continues to face multiple humanitarian pressures. UNICEF reported that during the first half of 2026, the country’s humanitarian situation deteriorated as the conflict in neighbouring Sudan drove further displacement into Chad.
By 30 June, Chad was hosting more than 2.26 million forcibly displaced people, including refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people and returned migrants.
Food security is among the critical sectors under pressure, particularly in areas hosting displaced populations. UNICEF reported that limited access to essential services, including food assistance, nutrition, water and sanitation, continued to affect vulnerable communities.
In Lac Province, for example, new displacement linked to violence placed additional pressure on already limited resources and humanitarian services.
Climate-related risks also affect agricultural livelihoods. UNICEF noted that seasonal rains and flood forecasts in several southern provinces could disrupt livelihoods and agricultural production, particularly among vulnerable rural households. Farmer-herder conflicts have also affected social cohesion and food security.
The UAE said its contribution will prioritize food security and reach communities at greatest risk of hunger and malnutrition. The funding forms part of the UAE Aid Agency’s wider humanitarian activities addressing climate-related disasters, food insecurity and declining livelihoods.
For Chad, the assistance adds financial support to humanitarian efforts seeking to address immediate food needs while building greater resilience against climate and other shocks.
The combination of emergency assistance and longer-term resilience measures reflects the growing connection between climate conditions, agricultural production and food security across vulnerable parts of Africa.
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