- Since the beginning of May 2026, 116 people were treated for injuries at Tiné hospital in Chad, as drone strikes have intensified across the border in Tina, Sudan.
- Civilians are not being spared in the strikes, with more women and children arriving at Tiné hospital in need of care.
- Communities must be protected and wounded people must be able to access medical care quickly and safely.
Tiné, Chad – Since early May, drone strikes have intensified around Tina, a city on the Sudanese side of the Chad–Sudan border. This has led to repeated influxes of wounded patients arriving at Tiné hospital in Chad, which is supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). In recent weeks, residents have reported near-daily strikes, attributed to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with as many as five or six occurring on some days.
Since the beginning of May, 116 people wounded in these strikes were treated at Tiné hospital. Between 17 and 26 May alone, 69 wounded patients were admitted. On 24 May, a strike hit a busy cafeteria in Tina market, resulting in the arrival of 35 wounded people in a single day. Three people were declared dead on arrival at the hospital, while several others reportedly died at the scene. Women and children were among the casualties.
“We are receiving patients after hours of travel, often in extremely difficult and critical conditions,” says Issiaka Abdou, MSF head of mission in Chad. “The injuries we are treating are often severe, including serious burns, blast-related trauma, and multiple injuries. We recently treated a child with severe burns to the face, arms and legs.
“Every delay in evacuation reduces the chances of survival for the most critically injured patients,” says Issiaka Abdou.
We are receiving patients after hours of travel, often in extremely difficult and critical condition.Issiaka Abdou, MSF head of mission in Chad
MSF medical teams are also observing a worrying shift in the profiles of patients.
“In recent days, we have seen more and more women and children among the wounded,” says Issiaka Abdou. “On 26 May, all patients received following drone strikes were civilians. This shows just how exposed people living in this border area are to violence.”
People living in the border region between Chad and Sudan are severely affected by the conflict in Darfur, displacement, and limited access to essential services, including healthcare. Repeated strikes are further exacerbating an already critical humanitarian situation.
“Health facilities in this region are operating in a challenging environment, with high needs and limited resources,” says Cissé Boucari Hamadoum, MSF project coordinator in Tiné. “Despite these constraints, our teams continue to provide emergency medical care and respond to influxes of wounded patients, in coordination with the Chadian health authorities.”
Health facilities in this region are operating in a challenging environment, with high needs and limited resources.Cissé Boucari Hamadoum, MSF project coordinator in Tiné
We provide medical care to patients in Tiné hospital and, when necessary, organise referrals to other medical facilities, including in Abéché, for the most severe cases.
Civilians should never pay the price of conflict. It is essential that communities are protected and that wounded people can access medical care quickly and safely. Since the start of the war in Sudan in April 2023, more than 900,000 Sudanese refugees have sought refuge in eastern Chad. In response to this crisis, MSF has expanded activities in the provinces of Sila, Wadi Fira and Ouaddaï.
In eastern Chad, MSF teams are working in Adré, Ouré Cassoni, Iridimi, Touloum, and Aboutengué. We are also working in villages in Ouaddaï province, and in Tiné in Wadi Fira province, providing emergency medical care and supporting health facilities that serve both refugee and host communities.