- The Darfur conflict has caused a massive increase in tree cutting for charcoal and firewood, as lack of cooking gas forces families to rely on these resources.
- To mitigate this, in the Adré refugee camp in neighboring Chad, a small organization plants neem trees to restore vegetation, provide shade, and reduce tensions over access to firewood.
- The influx of displaced populations into camps like Adré strains fragile ecosystems: Overcrowding increases pressure on water resources and vegetation, leading to further desertification, soil erosion, and conflict over shared natural resources between refugees and host communities.
- Grassroots and U.N. initiatives, such as reforestation and the promotion of energy-efficient stoves, aim to mitigate the damage, but more funding is needed to scale up these efforts.
ADRÉ, Chad — In the dry and windswept plains of the Adré refugee camp in eastern Chad, a grove of young neem trees stands as a testament to resilience and determination. For Zahra Adam Khamis, a refugee from Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region and founder of The Safe Space for Women and Girls, these trees symbolize far more than shade or fruit: they represent a vision for healing, both for the land and its people.
Zahra fled Darfur in June 2023, leaving behind a life in West Darfur’s capital, El Geneina, where she had worked with humanitarian organizations for nearly two decades. As a member of the Masalit minority, Zahra faced not only the horrors of war but also the persecution of her community. The Masalit people have long been marginalized and attacked in Darfur, and their plight has escalated with the resurgence of violence.
In January 2025, the United States declared the atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against the Masalit as genocide, marking the second time in two decades that such crimes have been recognized in Sudan.
“The war didn’t just destroy homes and lives; it destroyed the land itself,” Zahra recalls, her voice heavy with emotion. In her hometown of El Geneina and surrounding areas, Masalit villages were razed, their populations driven out or killed. The scars of conflict extend beyond human suffering, leaving the very landscape devastated.
This violent struggle for power has devastated the country, displacing millions and creating a humanitarian crisis of unimaginable proportions.
This destruction is also part of a broader environmental crisis. The Darfur region of Sudan has experienced significant deforestation over recent decades, a trend exacerbated by the relentless conflict. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reported that, even before the conflict, deforestation rates in Darfur exceeded 1% annually, a troubling sign of the pressures on the land.
When Zahra crossed the border into Chad, she joined tens of thousands of other refugees seeking safety in Adré. Despite the trauma of displacement and the challenges of life in exile, she resolved to rebuild — not only her own life, but also the fragile environment that had been left in ruins by the conflict.
In Adré, Zahra says, women struggled to secure resources like water and firewood, and the lack of economic opportunities forced many to collect tree branches or engage in manual labor to survive. Girls as young as 16 came to the camp seeking work, often falling prey to exploitation.
Determined to create a better future, it was then that Zahra established The Safe Space for Women and Girls, an initiative that combines environmental conservation with women’s empowerment. Central to the project is the planting of neem trees (Azadirachta indica), which provide shade, oil, fruit and materials for handicrafts.
“The neem tree is a blessing,” Zahra says. “It grows fast, survives with little water, and its seeds can be used to create something valuable.”
Since its inception, the initiative has planted more than 300 neem trees around the camp. These trees not only mitigate the environmental degradation caused by deforestation but also serve as a symbol of resilience. Women in the program are trained to use neem seeds and wood to craft handbags and jewelry, which are sold to support further reforestation efforts.
“We’re turning something small into something sustainable,” Zahra says. “Every tree we plant is a step toward restoring the land and empowering women.”
Conflict’s hidden cost
Sudan’s war has turned charcoal demand into an environmental crisis. The lack of cooking gas, caused by disrupted trade routes and the RSF’s control of Darfur, has forced many families to rely entirely on charcoal and firewood for cooking. This demand has driven illegal logging, turning charcoal into a lucrative and destructive trade.
The absence of governance in Darfur exacerbates the problem. Traders smuggle charcoal across borders, including into Chad, while rural communities increasingly cut down trees to meet the soaring demand. In Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, the price of a sack of charcoal has risen fivefold since the war began, incentivizing further deforestation.
Access to gas before the war meant “a family could survive on half a sack of charcoal a month,” Zahra says. “Now, they need four times that amount just to cook, and the forests are paying the price.”
The environmental impact extends beyond deforestation. Drought, exacerbated by climate change, and explosives have decimated vegetation in many areas, while displaced populations in camps like those in East Darfur have further strained fragile ecosystems. The resulting desertification threatens not only the environment but also the livelihoods of those dependent on the land.
Life in Adré presents its own set of challenges. Water scarcity is a constant issue, particularly in the dry season when overcrowded water sources struggle to meet demand. Firewood remains the primary fuel source for cooking, putting additional pressure on local resources and creating tensions between refugees and host communities.
Zahra’s initiative helps address these issues through community education and practical solutions. Women are taught sustainable practices, such as planting a tree for every one they cut down, and are encouraged to use energy-efficient cooking methods. However, limited funding and resources hinder the project’s ability to scale up.
“We need financial support to expand,” Zahra says. “With more resources, we could plant more trees, train more women, and make a bigger impact.”
Leading the charge
The United Nations has been a vital partner in supporting environmental initiatives in refugee camps across Chad. Large-scale tree-planting programs have resulted in the distribution of more than 10,000 seedlings, while community nurseries, often managed by women, ensure a more sustainable supply of trees. Additionally, the U.N. has distributed 4,500 improved stoves to refugee households, reducing the consumption of firewood and charcoal, Amadou Diallo, the Energy and Environment Expert at the UN Refugee Agency, told Mongabay.
Solar-powered water pumps and ecological stoves, such as those distributed under the Albia project, are helping address energy and resource challenges. However, as U.N. representatives note, scaling up these initiatives remains difficult due to logistical constraints and limited funding.
One of Zahra’s most impactful programs involves training women to craft products from neem seeds, which are sold at the camp’s women’s center. The income generated supports further tree planting and provides a sense of purpose for the women involved.
“When women see what they can achieve, they realize they are not just refugees — they are changemakers,” Zahra says.
However, challenges remain. The lack of modern tools and training limits the project’s reach, and the growing population in camps like Adré puts additional strain on resources. Tensions between refugees and host communities over water and firewood continue to be a source of conflict. Zahra’s initiative seeks to address these tensions by promoting equitable resource sharing and fostering collaboration between the two groups.
Experts agree that addressing the environmental crisis in Sudan and Chad requires urgent action. Prolonged conflict has exacerbated deforestation, desertification and resource scarcity, threatening both human and ecological systems. Peace, many argue, is the first step toward reversing these trends.
Somaia Adam Musa, an environmental coordinator with AWAFY, a youth-led NGO, calls for integrating environmental plans into all programs and fostering individual responsibility. “Empowering communities during war is difficult, but possible through humanitarian interventions tied to environmental plans,” Musa says. She highlights the importance of linking environmental efforts to urgent challenges like famine, migration and resource conflicts.
For Zahra, the path forward begins with grassroots action and community empowerment. She says she dreams of expanding her initiative to other camps and building partnerships with international organizations to create lasting solutions. “We need more than just aid,” she says. “We need collaboration and investment in our ideas to truly make a difference.”
Banner image: Refugees in Adré Camp, eastern Chad, use camels to transport firewood and tree branches essential for building shelters, a vital resource for accommodating newly arrived refugees. Iamge courtesy of the UN.
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