Report from Team Zamzam, January 22, 2026 |On the Humanitarian Situation in Tiné (Chad) and Tina (Sudan)
Reporting Period: 15 December 2025 – 15 January 2026
(translated by Gaffar Mohammud Saeneen)
Overview
This report highlights the deteriorating security, humanitarian, and health situation in the twin border towns of Tina, Sudan and Tiné, Chad, amid escalating violence in North Darfur. The ongoing conflict has triggered mass displacement, overwhelming already fragile humanitarian and health response capacities in the area.
Security Situation
The security situation in the northern parts of North Darfur has been catastrophic over the past two months. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias have intensified attacks on the area known as Dar Zaghawa, targeting unarmed civilians through repeated and brutal assaults. These attacks have forced large numbers of civilians to flee their homes, seeking refuge in valleys, forests, and mountainous areas, while many crossed the border into Chad.
The violence has not been confined to Sudanese territory. Tiné, Chad, which hosts a significant number of Sudanese refugees, has also been affected. RSF reportedly used unmanned drones to terrorize the town, including areas hosting refugee shelters. This cross-border insecurity has heightened fear among both refugees and host communities and further complicated humanitarian access.
Humanitarian Situation
The humanitarian situation in both Tine towns is extremely dire. The influx of refugees from various parts of Darfur continues to increase as RSF and allied Arab nomadic militias expand their attacks. Humanitarian response remains critically insufficient due to the limited presence of NGOs, inadequate relief supplies, and restricted operational capacity. Food insecurity, lack of shelter, and insufficient non-food items are widespread, leaving thousands of displaced families without adequate assistance.
Health Situation
The health situation is equally alarming. There are very few functioning health facilities, all of which suffer from limited resources, staffing, and capacity. At present, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is the only international medical organization operating in the area. However, the scale of medical needs far exceeds MSF’s capacity. Large numbers of refugees and host community members lack access to essential healthcare services, including emergency care, maternal health services, and treatment for chronic and conflict-related injuries.
Conclusion
The combined impact of escalating violence, mass displacement, and inadequate humanitarian and health responses has placed civilians in Tina, Sudan and Tiné, Chad at extreme risk. Immediate scaling-up of humanitarian assistance, protection measures, and health services is urgently needed to prevent further loss of life and human suffering.
Work Carried Out by Team Zamzam Counsellors During the Reporting Period
Nutrition and Food Assistance
From mid-December to the first week of January, Team Zamzam implemented a collective kitchen programme aimed at providing fresh, nutritious meals to malnourished families. This initiative complemented the ongoing breakfast programme for children suffering from severe malnutrition. Operations were on both sides of the Chad/Darfur border that divides Tina/Tiné.
During this period:
- Fresh meals were provided to 516 families.
- Regular breakfast was served to 2,421 children under the age of 18.
- In addition, 104 of the most vulnerable families received food packages consisting of red lentils, sugar, flour, and laundry soap.
These interventions significantly contributed to addressing acute food insecurity and malnutrition within the community.
Counseling for Survivors of Sexual Violence
Individual and group counselling sessions for survivors of sexual violence continued throughout the reporting period, with a notable increase in attendance. Recent cases indicate that many survivors have suffered not only severe psychological trauma but also physical injuries, with visible scars observed on their bodies.
The sharp rise in counselling attendance is closely linked to the escalation of violence since April 2025. The counseling program has provided a safe space for survivors to come forward and share their experiences with Team Zamzam counsellors. Survivors reported extremely distressing accounts, including prolonged detention under inhumane conditions by RSF and allied groups. In several cases, survivors were released only after their families paid ransom.
Despite the severity of these experiences, the counselling program continues to play a critical role in supporting survivors’ mental health, encouraging disclosure, and fostering pathways toward healing and protection.
[Gaffar estimates on the basis of conversations with several members of Team Zamzam that during this reporting period there were 45 individual counseling sessions and 18 group counseling sessions. Team Zamzam provides the major humanitarian response to sexual violence in the area—ER]
• Link to annual report for 2025
• A collection of photos of Team Zamzam at work may be found at: https://wp.me/p45rOG-2SM
• Who makes up Project Zamzam?
PROJECT ZAMZAM
Responding to Sexual Violence in Darfur/Providing Humanitarian Assistance to IDPS and Refugees in Tina/Tiné (North Darfur/Chad)
Governance:
Gaffar Mohammud Saeneen, project co-chair
Eric Reeves, project co-chair
Nancy Reeves, editor/fundraising consultant
Team Zamzam:
[1] Naiema Mohammud Sineen, project coordinator/team supervisor
[2] Fatima Abdulkerim, project reporting
[3] Omar Managou Mohamed, project logistics and head of security.
[4] Manaheil Ibrahim Younis, responsible for fistula patients.
[5] Siham Abdullah Baraka, project deputy coordinator of Projects and spokesperson for
Team Zamzam on the ground
[6] Salma Mohamed Yahya, overseeing response to victims of sexual violence
[7] Zamzam Adam Abakar, counselor
[8] Rashida Alsafi Sabiel, counselor
[9] Um Elfoukara Abdullah Madibo, counselor
[10] Marwa Abakar Sineen, counselor
[11] Intisar Adam Ali, counselor
[12] Elnouba Harry Ali, counselor
[13] Fatina Bakiet, counselor
[14] Mazahir Mohamed Sidig, counselor
[15] Mouwada Yagoub, counselor
[16] Rougia Osman Dawoud, counselor
[17] Amani Tijani Sheta, counselor
[18] Fatima Katier, counselor
[19] Mahasin Abakar Arja, counselor
Security personnel:
[20] Musab Kater, security
[21] Ahmed Bushara Yahy, security