West and Central Africa facing deepening humanitarian crisis amid funding gaps
The United Nations has issued an urgent call to action for West and Central Africa, where a severe humanitarian crisis continues to escalate. With 24 million vulnerable individuals in dire need of support, the UN and its partners are seeking $5.1 billion in funding to address the growing emergency in 2026.
Escalating crises across the Sahel and beyond
In 2026, an estimated 42 million people across eight countries—including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Chad—will require urgent assistance to survive and remain safe. The situation remains precarious, with families facing increased hunger, displacement, and protection risks.
“Without immediate resources, the suffering will intensify,” warns Charles Bernimolin, Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for West and Central Africa. The region is grappling with a deepening humanitarian emergency, fueled by persistent conflicts and environmental disasters that continue to displace families and strip them of their means to meet basic needs.
A humanitarian crisis fueled by conflict and climate
The central Sahel region—particularly Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—has seen violence spill 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 further exacerbated displacement, pushing millions from their homes.
The crisis has left 12.7 million internally displaced persons and 3.7 million refugees and asylum seekers across the region, with women and children bearing the brunt of the suffering. Many have been displaced multiple times, facing heightened risks such as gender-based violence, exploitation, and survival sex. In 2025, extreme weather events—including heavy rains and floods—displaced over 2 million people across 12 countries. Democratic Republic of the Congo was particularly hard-hit, with more than 830,000 people affected.
Devastating consequences of funding shortfalls
Despite the generosity of donors in 2025, humanitarian operations in the region have faced severe funding gaps. Of the $7.8 billion requested, only $1.8 billion—just 24%—was secured. This shortfall has forced aid agencies to scale back operations and make difficult choices about where to allocate limited resources.
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 assistance received no support at all.
Despite these challenges, humanitarian partners remain committed to addressing priority needs in West and Central Africa. By the end of 2025, aid workers had provided some form of assistance to 19 million people in the region. However, agencies emphasize that millions more remain in desperate need of help due to critical funding gaps.
