Lake Chad Basin - Humanitarian Overview (As of 29 April 2026)

The humanitarian situation in the Lake Chad Basin remains extremely fragile and complex, marked by persistent insecurity, large-scale population displacement, and a significant contraction in resources dedicated to humanitarian action. Between January and March 2026, 239 security incidents and 345 associated fatalities were recorded, confirming the high volatility of the situation, particularly in north east Nigeria, the Lac region of Chad, the Far North of Cameroon, and the Diffa region of Niger. This chronic insecurity continues to uproot people from their lands and homes, with just over 3 million internally displaced persons and more than 325,000 refugees, severely limiting prospects for safe, voluntary, and sustainable returns. Humanitarian needs remain high with about 8.2 million people in need of aid, including 4 million targeted by the humanitarian response. To support these populations, the region’s financial requirements are estimated at US$ 548 million. However, the challenge of resource mobilization remains critical, with only 22 per cent of funding needs covered to date. Key sectors, including food security, nutrition, education, protection, and access to basic services, continue to be severely affected. The situation is particularly alarming, with 7.4 million people acute food insecure (IPC Phase 3 or more, or crisis and worse, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification), severe acute malnutrition among children, and several non-functional schools, especially in areas most affected by conflict, depriving children of education. In this context, strengthening humanitarian coordination and access to affected areas is essential to effectively respond to the needs of the most vulnerable people. Substantial financial support remains critical to increase the level of funding for interventions to enable a humanitarian response commensurate with the persistent challenges in the Lake Chad Basin.