Un appeals for $5.1 billion to tackle the humanitarian emergency in West and Central Africa

As part of a massive $33 billion global humanitarian initiative for 2026, the United Nations and its partners are requesting $5.1 billion to provide life-saving assistance to 24 million of the most vulnerable individuals across West Africa and Central Africa.

Projections for 2026 suggest that over 42 million people will require urgent aid to survive and maintain their safety in nations including Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Mali, Niger, Nigéria, the République centrafricaine, the République démocratique du Congo, and Tchad.

Charles Bernimolin, the Regional Head of OCHA for West Africa and Central Africa, warned that a lack of immediate funding would lead to increased hunger, mass displacement, and heightened protection risks, causing widespread suffering for families across the territory.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the region is grappling with an escalating crisis. Persistent violence, armed conflicts, and environmental disasters continue to uproot families, stripping them of their ability to meet basic survival needs.

Security challenges in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin

The instability in the central Sahel—particularly affecting Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—is now spilling over into Bénin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Mauritanie. This regional instability, combined with the Niger security situation and the conflict in Soudan, is forcing more people to seek refuge elsewhere. For those following Niger news English, the humanitarian implications of these shifts are significant.

Currently, millions remain displaced, including 12.7 million internally displaced persons and 3.7 million refugees and asylum seekers. Women and children make up the majority of this population, frequently enduring multiple displacements and facing extreme risks, such as gender-based violence and exploitation. Recent reports from the field, including Niamey news today, highlight the prevalence of survival sex and sexual assault in these vulnerable communities.

The West Africa Niger corridor is also increasingly vulnerable to climate change. In 2025, torrential rains and flooding impacted over 2 million people across 12 countries, ruining harvests, destroying homes, and cutting off access to healthcare and education. The République démocratique du Congo was hit especially hard, with more than 830,000 citizens affected.

The dire consequences of funding shortfalls

OCHA points out that despite donor contributions in 2025, humanitarian efforts faced a massive financial gap. Of the $7.8 billion required, only $1.8 billion was received—a mere 24% of the target. This shortage has forced aid organizations to scale back their operations and make painful decisions about which communities to support.

These budget cuts have had a tragic impact. In the République centrafricaine, cash assistance programs were slashed by 75%, leaving families unable to buy essentials. In the République démocratique du Congo, where conflict has sparked new waves of displacement, 85% of those needing emergency shelter received no help at all.

Despite these hurdles, humanitarian partners remain dedicated to addressing the most critical needs. By the conclusion of 2025, aid workers expect to have reached 19 million people with some form of support. However, agencies emphasize that millions more have been left behind due to the lack of resources, a key concern for those tracking Niger politics and regional stability.