An estimated 2 million children aged 6–59 months are suffering or expected to suffer acute malnutrition in Chad between October 2025 and September 2026, including nearly 484,000 children expected to suffer severe acute malnutrition. More than 219,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women are likely to suffer acute malnutrition during the same period. The national nutrition situation is expected to remain at similar levels to the previous year with a variation of less than 5 percent.

During the current period (October 2025–January 2026), eight areas are classified as IPC Acute Malnutrition (AMN) Phase 4 (Critical), while populations are facing IPC AMN Phase 3 (Serious) conditions in 29 areas. The nutrition situation is expected to improve slightly during the first projection period of February–May 2026 due to a decline in diseases and epidemics, improved food consumption, and receding floods leading to improved water and sanitation conditions. 

Coinciding with the peak malnutrition season, the situation will progressively worsen during the second projection period from June–September 2026, with 15 areas projected to deteriorate from Phase 3 to Phase 4, bringing the total number of areas in Phase 4 to 24. This represents more than a third of the units analysed. In addition, six areas will deteriorate from Phase 2 to Phase 3.

Malnutrition in Chad is driven by a number of factors, including inadequate food intake and poor dietary diversity among children, high prevalence of childhood diseases, high levels of acute food insecurity and poor water, hygiene and sanitation conditions, as well as shocks such as flooding and insecurity.