Farchana Settlement

Farchana settlement is located in the municipality of the same name, in the sub-prefecture of Molou, along the corridor that connects the border town of Adré to Abéché, the capital of Ouaddai province and one of the largest cities in Chad. 

The settlement was first opened over 20 years ago, in January 2004, to host Sudanese forcibly displaced to Chad by the conflict in Darfur that broke out in 2003. 

Since the start of the conflict in Sudan in April 2023, the settlement has been expanded to accommodate people crossing the border into Chad fleeing the conflict. 

The sites and extension are equipped with basic infrastructures and services, including pre-primary, primary and secondary schools, health centres, markets, community centres, as well as dedicated centres for youth and women, water, hygiene and sanitation services. 

As of early January 2025, the settlement is home to 53,873 people. 

In this small municipality of 22,080 people, the presence of refugees adds pressure on already scarce and overstretched national infrastructure and services, and limits livelihood opportunities. 

In Farchana, UN-Habitat and UNHCR partner with the local authorities to support the transformation of the refugee settlements into an integrated economic development hub in line with the Government's urbanization plan and development of the Abéché-Adré Corridor. 

In Chad, UNHCR and UN-Habitat are working in collaboration with local authorities and the Ministry of Land Management, Housing, and Urban Development (MATHU) and the Ministry of Planning to develop Integrated Urban Projects for municipalities along the Abéché-Adré Corridor. 

The Integrated Urban Projects serve as a territorial planning document and a programmatic study, including investment proposals. They provide a strategic vision developed in collaboration with local authorities, including a spatial plan for development proposals and a strategy for mobilizing resources. Central and local authorities actively participate in the development of planning documents and are equipped to oversee project implementation, ensuring sustainability and local ownership. This methodology also enables the structuring of large-scale, multi-city sectoral investments in the short, medium, and long term.

The transformation of refugee settlements into integrated economic development hubs is at the heart of this approach. Farchana was identified as the pilot area for the implementation.

After Farchana, the operation will be extended to other localities along the Abéché-Adré corridor, taking into account other major refugee settlements, such as Gaga, Hadjer Hadid, Bredjing, Reguine and Arkoum. The identification of additional settlements will follow a co-constructed approach involving UN-Habitat, UNHCR, local authorities, the Ministry of Land Management, Housing, and Urban Development (MATHU) and the Ministry of Planning. This preliminary identification of settlements aims to establish an economic, commercial, and human corridor between Adré and Abéché.

In Farchana, housing plot sizes vary significantly, with urban plots averaging 600m² and those in refugee sites averaging 150m². In the settlement, refugees live in semi-durable or durable shelters. The most recent arrivals live in emergency shelters. The mixed-use nature of land, where residential areas are combined with agriculture and basic services, further complicates planning. A complex land tenure system, blending customary and formal laws, creates legal uncertainty for residents. Efforts are underway to introduce a structured urban plan that ensures proper land allocation, while encouraging densification in key areas to improve access to essential services.

Farchana’s strategic position on the Adré–Abéché–N’Djamena route makes transportation vital to economic development. However, mobility remains largely informal, with donkey carts and motorcycles dominating local transport. Roads linking Farchana to other urban centres are often in poor condition, with seasonal floods cutting off key routes. Investments are needed for a regional transport network upgrade, better public transport options, and safer pedestrian to facilitate mobility and economic activity.

Farchana settlement currently meets only 60% of its water needs. Inadequate sanitation further worsens public health risks, leading many villagers to rely on unsafe water sources, such as the Ouaddis streams. Investments are necessary to develop boreholes, reservoirs, water pumping and distribution networks, as well as water conservation techniques. Additionally, implementing sustainable sanitation systems is essential to ensure a healthier living environment.

There is no public electricity network in Farchana. Electricity mainly comes from private diesel generators (UN, NGO), which also power boreholes and communication systems. Firewood remains the primary cooking fuel, accelerating deforestation and increasing inter-community tensions. Currently, solar energy powers two-thirds of the water boreholes in the refugee settlement. In the medium- and long-term, the expansion of solar energy solutions for both water pumping and public lighting is a priority. Additionally, alternative cooking technologies such as solar cookers and fuel-efficient stoves will help reduce wood consumption. 

Farchana has two main markets. The largest is located in the refugee settlement, hosting 350 stalls, while the village market has 150 stalls. The main market, despite being the largest in the province, suffers from deteriorated infrastructure, insufficient capacity, and an unhealthy environment. Additionally, it lacks a bus station to transport goods and people efficiently. Investments are needed to support the refurbishment of the main market, creating a transport hub to facilitate the movement of goods and people, and linking commercial activities with agricultural zones. Additional support, such as business training and financial inclusion programs, will empower both refugees and local traders.

Farchana settlement has a total of 16 schools, including 5 preschools, 8 primary schools, 2 high schools and a lycée with over 12,000 students. The enrolment rates remain low but are slightly higher than the national average for refugee children and youth. Transition from primary to secondary education remains a challenge, even if more girls enrol in secondary education than boys. Investments are needed to increase the number of schools, enhance WASH facilities, recruit more teachers, and provide educational resources for both educators and learners to improve access to quality of education for all children.

Farchana has one health centre constructed in 2024 by the Ministry of Health to serve as a district hospital. However, additional investments are needed for it to meet the requirements of a district hospital, including the construction of an operating theatre.

Farchana refugee settlement has two health facilities: a health centre and a health post. This represents a ratio of one health facility for every 25,000 people, which is significantly higher than the standard of one health facility for every 10,000 people. There is an urgent need to extend the existing health centre and to convert the temporary health post into a permanent structure.