West and Central Africa: Latest Events at a glance (17-23 February 2026)

Burkina Faso

UN and partners seek $658.5 million to help over 2 million people

The UN and humanitarian partners have launched the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, requesting $658.5 million to support 2.7 million of the 4.5 million people in need across 13 regions. The plan aligns with national priorities and supports Government-led efforts in food security, health and essential services. Burkina Faso continues to face a complex crisis driven by insecurity, displacement and climate shocks, further deepening vulnerabilities. Severe funding shortfalls continue to undermine response efforts. In 2025, only one-third of required funding was received, forcing partners to reduce assistance and reach less than half of the targeted population. Access constraints, particularly in hard-to-reach areas requiring air transport or escorted convoys, are increasing operational costs. Without more donor support, humanitarian partners warn that hard-won gains could be reversed, undermining resilience and recovery efforts.

Mali

Insecurity continues to drive refugee influx

Mali is currently hosting more than 165,000 Burkinabè and Nigerien refugees who have fled insecurity and violence in their countries. According to UNHCR, most arrivals originate from Burkina Faso’s Sahel region and parts of Niger, driven by fear, attacks by non-State armed groups and ongoing military operations. The majority of refugees have been jointly registered by the Government of Mali and UNHCR in accessible areas. However, approximately 9,000 individuals remain unregistered. If funding and operational conditions allow, these individuals will be prioritized in continuous refugee registration and documentation activities planned for 2026.

Cameroon

Funding gaps threaten food security response

Humanitarian partners have warned of worsening food insecurity amid severe funding shortfalls. During a roundtable hosted by the Swiss Ambassador and co-organized by IFRC,
OCHA and Food Security Sector agencies, partners stressed that only 19 per cent of required funding for food insecurity response was mobilized in 2025. Assessments show declining food consumption, depletion of household assets, reduced purchasing power and rising malnutrition among displaced and vulnerable populations. Cadre Harmonisé projections indicate that up to 2.9 million people could face acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including 2.6 million in IPC Phase 3 and 250,000 in IPC Phase 4. Over 1 million affected people are in the Far North region alone. Partners cautioned that without early and flexible funding, the upcoming lean season could significantly worsen malnutrition, livelihoods and protection risks.

Niger

Over 275,000 newly displaced amid rising insecurity

According to Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) partners, at least 275,172 people were newly displaced across five regions of Niger in 2025 due to repeated armed group attacks against civilians. Tillabéri was most affected (132,322 newly displaced), followed by Diffa (97,853), Tahoua (30,367),
Maradi (8,361) and Dosso (6,269). Reported incidents included killings, kidnappings, forced displacement ultimatums, cattle theft, illegal taxation, extortion and destruction of property. During the year, 442 civilians were killed, 165 injured and 578 abducted. The scale of displacement has placed significant strain on local communities and response capacity. Partners stress the need for sustained funding to maintain RRM operations, particularly for Tillabéri and Diffa, where displacement levels were highest.