The population of Chad is estimated at 16.9 million inhabitants, in 2020, and is unequally distributed over the entire territory [4]. The population is also young, as an estimated 47% is under 15 [5]. Urban life in Chad is concentrated in the capital N'Djamena, whose population is mostly engaged in commerce. The other major towns are Sarh, Moundou, Abéché and Doba, which are considerably smaller but growing rapidly in population and economic activity [6]. The rate of urbanization is at 4.1% annual rate of change according to a 2020-25 estimation, with Chad's cities facing serious difficulties of municipal infrastructure; only 48% of urban residents have access to potable water and only 2% to basic sanitation. Chad primarily exports oil (98 % of its exports in 2008) and agricultural products (livestock, cotton, peanuts, cereals) and it imports fuels and capital goods [7].

With a GDP per capita of US$ 709 in 2019, a significant deterioration from the 2014 value of US$ 1018, Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world. Although the country has made progress in poverty reduction, with a decline in the national poverty rate from 55% to 42% between 2003 and 2018, poverty remains prevalent. Additionally, with demographic growth, the number of poor Chadians is increasing by 200,000 people per annum, with the number of poor people projected to increase to 6.3 million by 2019. Moreover, the COVID-19 has worsened the country’s situation [8]. According to the 2019 United Nations' Human Development Index (HDI), Chad is regarded as a low human development country, positioning itself at 187 out of 189 countries and territories. However, between 2000 and 2019, Chad’s HDI value has shown an increase of 35.8% from 0.293 to 0.398 [9].

Years of civil war in the country has largely scared away foreign investors. In 2000, major direct foreign investment in the oil sector began, boosting the country's economic prospects. Cotton remains a primary export, although exact figures are not available. Rehabilitation of Cotontchad, a major cotton company weakened by a decline in world cotton prices, has been financed by France, the Netherlands, the European Union, and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development [10].

In Chad, one in three people, or 5.5 million people, needs humanitarian assistance. Food insecurity and malnutrition affect 5.1 million people, including more than 1.7 million in its severe form. As of September 2021, 1.7 million people are affected by health emergencies, particularly children, pregnant and breastfeeding women. This is due to limited access to basic services (such as drinking water, sanitation, and primary and reproductive health care), and to low vaccination coverage, which favors the emergence and spread of infectious diseases with epidemic potential. From January to 19 September 2021, 2,214 cases of measles was suspected and 666,159 cases of malaria were confirmed. Since its emergence in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected 5,031 people and has led to 174 deaths [11].

Additionally, more than one million people are in a situation of forced displacement in the country. These include 520,129 refugees, 402,703 internally displaced persons (IDPs), 30,356 Chadian returnees in the Lac province, and 89,858 Chadian returnees from CAR in the South. The Lac province continues to be plagued by attacks, incursions, and infiltrations by non-state armed groups (NSAGs) against the Defense and Security Forces (DSF) and local communities. This insecurity has led to regular displacements of populations. In the South, the actions of Central African NSAGs, as well as recent inter-community conflicts, have caused the displacement of nearly 11,000 refugees and returnees to border villages in Chad. These recent returnees and refugees who have arrived from CAR since January 2021 (43,390 people) are in a very vulnerable situation that requires additional resources [11].