West africa and central africa facing severe humanitarian crisis
The United Nations and its partners are urgently calling for $5.1 billion in 2026 to address the escalating humanitarian crisis affecting 24 million people across West and Central Africa.
This appeal is part of a broader global humanitarian funding request of $33 billion, aimed at protecting the most vulnerable populations from hunger, displacement, and worsening security threats in the region.
a region under pressure: conflict, climate, and displacement
In 2026, an estimated 42 million people in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Chad will require urgent humanitarian assistance to survive and stay safe.
Charles Bernimolin, Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for West and Central Africa, warns: « Without immediate funding, families will face even greater risks of hunger, displacement, and protection threats, deepening suffering across the region. »
The crisis is driven by a combination of persistent conflicts, widespread violence, and devastating environmental disasters. In the Sahel, insecurity in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger has spilled over into neighboring countries like Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Mauritania. Meanwhile, instability in the Lake Chad Basin and the conflict in Sudan have forced millions to flee their homes.
Over 16 million people are now displaced in the region, including 12.7 million internally displaced persons and 3.7 million refugees and asylum seekers. Women and children make up the majority of those affected, often enduring multiple displacements and facing heightened risks such as gender-based violence and exploitation, including reports of rape and survival sex.
The climate crisis further exacerbates vulnerabilities. In 2025, severe flooding and intense rainfall affected more than 2 million people across 12 countries, destroying crops, damaging homes, and disrupting access to education and healthcare. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was particularly hard-hit, with over 830,000 people impacted.
funding gaps leave millions without critical support
Despite generous donor contributions in 2025, humanitarian operations in West and Central Africa faced severe funding shortages. Of the $7.8 billion required, only $1.8 billion—just 24%—was received, forcing aid agencies to scale back operations and prioritize limited resources.
These shortfalls have had devastating consequences. In the Central African Republic, the number of people receiving cash assistance plummeted by 75%, severely limiting their ability to meet urgent needs. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where conflict has triggered new waves of displacement, 85% of those targeted for shelter support received no assistance.
By the end of 2025, humanitarian workers had provided some form of assistance to 19 million people in the region. However, agencies emphasize that many more were left without support due to insufficient funding. « We must act now to prevent a deeper humanitarian catastrophe, » they urge.
