Global Humanitarian Overview 2023

West and Central Africa

The West and Central Africa region is the epicentre of a fast-growing crisis with unprecedented levels of armed violence and insecurity. Millions of people are being driven to the fringes of survival due to the confluence of conflict, deep poverty, demographic pressures, urbanization, weak governance, chronically high food insecurity and malnutrition, and the impact of climate change. The compounded impact on the most vulnerable people is devastating and causing persisting, fast-escalating needs. More than 64.5 million people in the region need assistance and protection in 2022, 4.5 million more people than in 2021. More than one person in 10 requires assistance and protection. It is predicted that about 5 million additional people will need assistance and protection, bringing the total to 69 million people in 2023 - due to considerable additional pockets of vulnerabilities and high incidences of extreme poverty across the whole region.

Humanitarian Response Plans

Abeche, Chad, This learning centre teaches agricultural practices that help improve access, availability and utilization of food. It has become a test site for community development in the region.

Chad

Chad
30 November 2022
Mali, Aichata with her school supplies.    

Mali

Mali
29 November 2022
Tillabéri, Niger, This girl has been displaced from her home and is now attending an emergency school.

Niger

Niger
30 November 2022

Violence and climate shocks are the main drivers of a dramatic food crisis, with over 75 million people (15 per cent of the region's total population) experiencing severe food insecurity. This year, the region's number of acutely food insecure people is the highest in the last eight years. It is predicted that north-east Nigeria and Burkina Faso, which are experiencing extreme hunger, will slip into famine if conditions worsen.

Conflicts in the region show no signs of abating, and they continue to take a heavy toll on civilians. Millions are caught between armed groups, intercommunal violence and military operations, and are forced to flee their homes to seek safety. Over 10 million people have been forcibly displaced internally or outside their country because of more security incidents, attacks and kidnappings than ever before.

Climate-related disasters are proliferating in the region, and extreme weather events this year are more significant and increasingly pushing vulnerable families deep into crisis. Floods, as well as severe droughts, have been recorded in several countries. Many regions affected by severe weather conditions have already been struggling with high levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, instability and violence. In addition, floods impacted hygiene and sanitation and increased the incidence of waterborne diseases. In 2021, flooding affected 1.4 million people in 15 West and Central African countries. While the rainy season continues this year in many countries in Central Africa, floods have so far affected 5.8 million people in 20 countries. Many areas are recording excess rainfall, potentially indicating upcoming trends in extreme rainfall events in the coming years.

Chad

Abeche, Chad

This learning centre teaches agricultural practices that help improve access, availability and utilization of food. It has become a test site for community development in the region.

OCHA/Federica Gabellini

The region’s crises are, first and foremost, protection crises, with a significant lack of access to basic services. Women and girls bear the brunt of the violence and are at heightened risk of sexual and gender-based violence. Yet adequate resources to protect girls and young women remain limited. Insecurity and conflict continue to affect household incomes and disrupt access to protection, education, health, food, and WASH services. As these crises deepen, entire generations are affected. More than 12,400 schools are closed or non-operational due to violence, jeopardizing children's future but especially the future of girls, as they are most likely to be removed from school, married off or engage in negative coping mechanisms. Girls are the least likely to return to school after prolonged interruptions.

While needs are at an all-time high, reaching people in conflict-affected areas is an ongoing challenge due to rising criminality, kidnappings and military operations. Aid workers are increasingly at risk; in the region, they are increasingly threatened, kidnapped or killed, particularly national aid workers. Large parts of the region have become inaccessible to humanitarian agencies, leaving communities without access to life-saving assistance.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo

A woman and her baby at a camp in Bunia for displaced people who fled violence.

OCHA/Wassy Kambale

Projected situation in 2023 and beyond

In 2023, millions of crisis-affected people in West and Central Africa will remain in a dire situation. The current inflationary spiral fueled by the war between Russia and Ukraine will continuously worsen the food security crisis in many countries in the region. It will continue to have significant complications on food security given the high reliance on wheat imports from both countries, their roles in global food markets, and Russia's prominence in global energy and fertilizer trade. This is aggravating inflation in the region and exacerbating pre-existing vulnerabilities. The current socioeconomic conditions risk intensifying civil unrest and increasing the risks of hunger-related riots.

The region is increasingly becoming a ground for geopolitical struggle among great powers, leading to increased sociopolitical tensions in fragile and volatile contexts. These tensions could further deteriorate stability and exacerbate existing poverty and vulnerabilities.

Despite humanitarian needs in the region continuing to rise, humanitarian response funding remains inadequate, and the crisis is outpacing the response. Donors prioritizing other regions and shrinking funding will pose a significant challenge to the humanitarian response in 2023 in West and Central Africa.

Nigeria

Gongulong, Nigeria

Violence forced Ali Bukar and his family to leave Gongulong a few years ago to seek safety. They have now returned to continue working on their family farm.

OCHA/Damilola Onafuwa

Additionally, the ongoing crisis in the Central Sahel and violence and attacks by armed groups are potentially spilling over towards neighbouring coastal countries in the Gulf of Guinea. The security situation in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo, bordering Burkina Faso, has significantly deteriorated in 2022. The situation risks deteriorating in the coming years due to the worsening of the conflict in Burkina Faso if no measures are taken to address insecurity.

In Central Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic (CAR) and Cameroon, the persistence of conflict and violence continues to worsen the humanitarian situation in several provinces and massively force people to displace to seek safety. In DRC, the resurgence of active armed groups in the east is significantly increasing displacement — about 5.7 million people are currently internally displaced in DRC. Since April 2021, accidents in CAR due to landmines and explosive ordnance have multiplied, particularly in the west, where the conflict has intensified and with civilians as the main victims. In Cameroon, the situation in the North-West and South-West regions remains volatile, and the number of attacks against civilians continues to rise.

Burkina Faso

People in Need at launch (Dec. 2022)
4.7 million
People Targeted at launch (Dec. 2022)
3.1 million
Requirements (US$) at launch (Dec. 2022)
866.8 million
Total Population
22.1 million
Income Level
Low income
INFORM Severity Index
7 / Very High
Consecutive appeals
2013 - 2023

Analysis of the context, crisis and needs

Burkina Faso continues to face the worst humanitarian crisis in its history, with one in four Burkinabè now in need of humanitarian assistance. The impact of the multidimensional crisis and political instability on the most vulnerable people has deepened over the past 12 months, including for some 840,000 people living in areas cut off from the rest of the country by non-State armed groups (NSAGs), whose access to basic commodities and services, fields and grazing areas and assistance is therefore increasingly limited. Some of these areas have crossed the emergency – and worse – thresholds for food and nutritional security, just when the harvest should normally have come. Furthermore, an estimated 1.7 million people in need live in areas where less than half of basic services are available. A total of 1.6 million (95 per cent) of these people are targeted by the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP).

Burkina Faso

Kaya Stadium, Burkina Faso

Sombewindé Sawadogo and her children were forced to flee a massacre in Yirgou, during which four of her family members were killed. They now live at a reception site in Burkina Faso’s Centre-Nord Region.

OCHA/Michele Cattani

More than 1.76 million people have been internally displaced – including more than 800,000 people newly displaced in the first 10 months of 2022, some for the second or third time, or even more. Many of these IDPs and their host communities depend heavily on humanitarian assistance.

From January to September 2022, serious security incidents rose by 43 per cent over the previous year. Concern is growing about the spillover effect into countries along the Gulf of Guinea; 55,000 refugees and asylum-seekers are in neighbouring countries. Burkina Faso continues to host some 29,000 refugees primarily from Sahel countries (Mali).

The cumulative impact of access restrictions, multiple displacements and increasingly protracted hosting in IDP-receiving areas is exacerbating vulnerability and the risk of intercommunal conflict due to pressure on limited natural resources. The shortfall in humanitarian financing has limited operations in 2022. By the end of October, the US$805 million HRP had received only 35 per cent of funds, and many clusters' partners indicate that they could have done more if additional funding had been available.

Burkina Faso

Fada, Burkina Faso

A young girl uses a bicycle to fetch water while carrying her brother. 

OCHA/Michele Cattani

Projected situation in 2023 and beyond

For 2023, the humanitarian community has maintained its focus on directing humanitarian action towards the most vulnerable people in the hardest-to-reach areas. Thus, in addition to severity of needs, the HRP’s targeting methodology takes access constraints into consideration, primarily populations’ access to basic services and productive assets, as well as humanitarian partners’ ability to reach affected populations. This approach presumes that development partners will continue – and even expand – support for basic service provision and livelihood protection in more accessible areas, despite the two coups d’état the country experienced in 2022. Explicitly identifying geographic and sectoral priorities for collaboration with development approaches, the HRP applies a strict targeting of humanitarian action to focus on life-saving activities. However, humanitarian partners emphasize that development action must be prioritized to support populations in more accessible areas, and they are committed to work with development partners to mitigate and manage risk for such investments.

In comparison to 2022, the scale and severity of humanitarian needs have increased. The number of communes showing phase 3+ levels of severity of needs increased from 172 in 2022 to 218 in 2023 (27 per cent). As a result, the total number of people who need humanitarian assistance stands at 4.65 million in 2023 — a 37 per cent increase from 2022 — while the number of people targeted by humanitarian partners is 3.14 million, which is a 5 per cent increase over the previous year target. Both figures reflect slight decreases from the people in need and target figures contained in the addendum to the 2022 HRP, accounted for by clusters’ capacity analysis, even as rising unit costs due to inflation and transport costs due to access constraints contribute to increasing the overall ask for 2023.

The situation in Burkina Faso remains highly volatile, and while some limited returns were reported in 2022, they have been partial and temporary in nature. At the same time, access worsened in 2022, with 30 per cent more areas facing severe access constraints by the end of September in comparison to January 2022. Overall, Burkina Faso is unlikely to see a major reduction in humanitarian needs in the coming year, requiring humanitarian donors and partners to do more to mobilize resources, protect and expand humanitarian space and acceptance, and reach larger numbers of people in need, wherever they are located.

Burkina Faso

Fada, Burkina Faso

Thiombiano Larba Irène is a volunteer teacher in remedial classes for students out of school. 

OCHA/Michele Cattani

Response priorities in 2023

Between January and September 2022, the humanitarian community reached an estimated 1.86 million people (49 per cent of the revised target) with multisectoral humanitarian assistance. According to the annual multisectoral needs assessment, 49 per cent of households said humanitarian assistance covered critical needs. Yet, while emergency support has contributed to mitigate the impact of the crisis, particularly in areas of lesser access challenges, rising morbidity and mortality of human and livestock populations in the areas most affected by insecurity is a growing concern.

For 2023, response priorities will focus on providing multisectoral life-saving assistance and protection, a context-specific minimum assistance package serving as the bar to measure reach. Some 80 per cent of people targeted, or 2.5 million people, will receive life-saving assistance (Strategic Objective 1). Additionally, the humanitarian community aims to provide support to 3.1 million people to improve access to basic social services, resilience and early recovery (Strategic Objectives 2 and 3).

Cameroon

People in Need at launch (Dec. 2022)
4.7 million
People Targeted at launch (Dec. 2022)
2.8 million
Requirements (US$) at launch (Dec. 2022)
413.6 million
Total Population
28 million
Income level
Lower middle income
INFORM Severity Index
6.5 / Very High
Consecutive appeals
2014 - 2023

Analysis of the context, crisis and needs

Nine out of 10 regions of Cameroon continue to be impacted by three complex humanitarian crises: the Lake Chad basin conflict, the North-West and South-West (NWSW) crisis and the Central African Republic (CAR) refugee crisis. In 2023, one out of six people living in Cameroon needs humanitarian assistance and protection, a total of 4.7 million people. More than 3.6 million people are facing acute food insecurity, and more than 2 million people are on the move as internally displaced people (IDPs), returnees or refugees. Humanitarian needs are compounded by structural development weaknesses and chronic vulnerabilities that further challenge the long-term recovery of affected people. The severity and scope of humanitarian needs in Cameroon continue to grow due to the impact of conflict and insecurity, epidemics and climate-related effects, such as floods and droughts. The prolonged nature of these crises, new or repeated displacement, and insufficient humanitarian assistance are factors that contribute to the considerable erosion of the affected population’s already limited resilience, leading to an increase in negative coping mechanisms, including child labour, child marriage and survival sex.

Cameroon

Igawa Meme, Far North, Cameroon

Saide and Mogogne both raise their children alone after their husbands died. Like many other single mothers, they support each other to make ends meet. 

OCHA/Ariane Maixandeau

In the Far North region, there are over 380,000 IDPs. Intercommunal clashes in August and December 2021 in Logone-Birni displaced over 70,000 people, including to Chad. Humanitarian assistance to these IDPs and returnees is severely limited due to a lack of resources. Furthermore, heavy flooding affected over 258,000 people from August to November 2022. Thousands of houses and hectares of farmland were destroyed and cattle lost, and affected populations were deprived of access to education and health-care facilities. The flooding also exacerbated the cholera epidemic in October 2022, leading to numerous of deaths. As a result, acute food insecurity continued to increase in the region.

The crisis in the NWSW regions has displaced almost 715,000 people since 2017 within Cameroon and to Nigeria. Short-term, pendular movements because of fear of attacks, military operations or confrontations between armed groups persist, while thousands of people continue to suffer from human rights violations and abuses. Protection, drinking water, food, health and education are the most acute needs of the affected populations. Only 9 per cent of IDP children go to school, as educational facilities, staff and schoolchildren continue to be attacked.

Cameroon’s eastern regions are home to 335,000 refugees from CAR. Access to livelihoods, food, WASH services and education remains limited for these refugees and their host communities. The steadily increasing number of refugees continues to exert significant pressure on natural resources and basic social services in the host areas.

Cameroon

Ardjanire, Far North, Cameroon

Children displaced with their mother since December 2021 following intercommunal conflict. 

OCHA/Ariane Maixandeau

Projected situation in 2023 and beyond

In 2023, 4.7 million people in Cameroon will need humanitarian assistance — a 17 per cent increase compared to 2022. Insecurity is expected to remain high in the Far North and NWSW regions in 2023 and will continue to cause population displacement, exacerbating limited access to food and other essential needs.

Tension between communities and the host population and displaced persons are likely to continue in 2023 in certain areas. This is due to the crises’ protracted nature leading to a steady decline in living standards; the impact of climate change further exacerbating the impact of natural disasters, especially flooding; and the conflict over natural resources.

Meanwhile, the political and security situation in neighbouring CAR, Chad and Nigeria is likely to lead to an increased number of people seeking refuge in Cameroon in 2023.

Insecurity will continue to render humanitarian access challenging in 2023, especially in the NWSW and Far North regions, with underfunding thought to remain the most important impediment to reaching people in need.

Cameroon

Bamenda, North-West Region, Cameroon

A young man receives a new wheelchair during WHO’s distribution of medical equipment. 

OCHA/Ariane Maixandeau  

Response priorities in 2023

In 2023, humanitarian partners plan to reach 2.8 million people (57 per cent of the number of People in Need), requiring US$413.6 million. Cameroon’s response plan recognizes that each crisis requires its distinct approach. In the NWSW region, the protection of victims of violence, and emergency assistance in food, nutrition, health, WASH, shelter and education continue to be the priority in 2023. In the Littoral and West regions, humanitarian stakeholders plan to increase response activities for IDPs and their host families in 2023 through the capacity-building of local actors. In the Far North, assistance to forcibly displaced people, especially newly displaced people, and the promotion of sustainable solutions through the implementation of the humanitarian-development-peace Nexus are the main priorities for 2023. In the East, Adamawa and North regions, the main objective continues to be reducing refugees’ dependence on humanitarian aid and developing areas hosting refugees, while humanitarian assistance will continue to support the most vulnerable refugees and host communities.

The humanitarian community will further promote accountability to affected populations, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, and gender- and age-sensitive programming, and it will foster the inclusion of persons living with disabilities and localization in 2023.

Central African Republic

People in Need at launch (Dec. 2022)
3.4 million
People Targeted at launch (Dec. 2022)
2.4 million
Requirements (US$) at launch (Dec. 2022)
465 million
Total Population
6.1 million
Income level
Low income
INFORM Severity Index
8.5 / Very High
Consecutive appeals
2003 - 2023

Analysis of the context, crisis and needs

The combined impact of shocks in 2021 and 2022 continued to severely affect people in the Central African Republic (CAR). Based on the Multi-Sectorial Needs Assessment (MSNA), 3.4 million people need protection and assistance in 2023, corresponding to 56 per cent of the population. Humanitarian needs are severe in all 72 sub-prefectures, 45 of which have reached the acute severity phase 4 on a scale of 5.

As CAR is landlocked, it is particularly affected by the disruption of world markets related to the war in Ukraine, as most basic commodities and relief items are imported.

The prices of wheat, rice and vegetable oil increased up to 56 per cent on local markets. Fuel shortages in CAR and higher prices for relief items, such as Plumpy’nut, medicine and basic commodities, have severely impacted the costs of response operations. As a result, less people were reached in 2022 with the same amount of humanitarian funding. The increased costs of living also meant that thousands of households faced hard choices and did not seek medical care and other basic services, such as schooling, because of insufficient means.

Central African Republic

Zémio, Central African Republic

Aissatu feeds her 8-month-old baby, Salma, with the Plumpy'nut food supplement to help fight malnutrition. 

OCHA/Anita Cadonau

During the first nine months of 2022, there was an 8 per cent increase in human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) compared to the entirety of 2021. Better coverage in the protection monitoring system has helped detect more cases of gender-based violence. However, due to insufficient funding and access constraints, only 24 per cent of survivors received timely medical assistance. 505,000 people were internally displaced, and 744,000 CAR refugees were registered in neighbouring countries (as of 31 October 2022). Compared to 2021, the number of newly displaced people increased in 2022, while the number of returnees decreased.

The Central African Armed Forces supported by other security personnel solidified their control of major urban centres in 2022. However, in rural areas, armed groups continued engaging in robberies, lootings, illegal taxations and property extortions. Armed groups and Government armed forces are involved in violent incidents committed against civilians. New displacements occurred in areas where clashes took place, while return movements of displaced people remained timid and centred around urban areas. In rural areas, the presence of armed groups has severely limited access to agricultural land, with dramatic consequences on the population in a country where 80 per cent of people derive their livelihood from farming. Consequently, food insecurity and malnutrition remained concerning. About 2.7 million people need immediate food assistance. If no assistance is provided, the situation risks deteriorating during the lean season (April to August 2023), with approximately 3 million people requiring immediate food assistance in 2023.

In 2022, the number of people affected by floods more than tripled, compared to 2021. This trend will likely continue because of climate change. Floods affected 35,390 people in 2021 and 104,000 people in 2022.

Central African Republic

Central African Republic

A young man drinks fresh water from a well that was rehabilitated by humanitarians. He explained: “We struggle a lot; life at the IDP site is so difficult. At least I can drink clean water – one less thing to worry about.”

OCHA/Anita Cadonau

Projected situation in 2023 and beyond

  1. Under the condition that armed groups and opposition leaders re-engage in the national dialogue, it could be possible that more IDPs will return to their areas of origin. However, as local elections are scheduled for 2023, further instability could occur, and the more-likely scenario is that new displacements as well as human rights abuses and IHL violations will continue at the same level as in 2022.
  2. Should commodity prices and transport costs continue to rise, it is likely that more people will become food insecure, leading to increased negative coping mechanisms such as survival sex, child marriages, school dropouts and enrolments in armed groups. In a context where illiteracy affects 64 per cent of people aged 15 to 24, hundreds of thousands more youths will face a bleak future.
Central African Republic

Bambari, Central African Republic

A mother of four at an IDP site shares a modest meal of cassava paste, the country’s most popular staple, with her children.

OCHA/Anita Cadonau

Response priorities in 2023

Against the backdrop of the global political and economic outlook for 2023 — which makes more funding for CAR unlikely, despite the increased number of people who need assistance — humanitarian partners in CAR went through a very rigorous targeting exercise. Consequently, 2.4 million of the most vulnerable people affected by multiple crises will be prioritized for assistance. Overall, 1.8 million people will receive multisectoral assistance, benefiting from in-kind or cash assistance, protection and access to basic services.

Based on existing feedback mechanisms, the humanitarian response will be even more tailored to what people express as their needs and preferences, as in the past. Furthermore, through a focus on localization, 155,000 people in hard-to-reach areas will receive humanitarian assistance, and local organizations will play an even more important role.

To maximize the impact of the support to affected communities and to reduce the number of people in need, humanitarian and development organizations will continue working together on localization, durable solutions, social cohesion, underlying causes of malnutrition, food insecurity and exposure to natural hazards triggered by climate change.

Chad

People in Need at launch (Dec. 2022)
6.9 million
People Targeted at launch (Dec. 2022)
4.5 million
Requirements (US$) at launch (Dec. 2022)
570 million
Total Population
18 million
Income level
Low income
INFORM Severity Index
7.9 / Very High
Consecutive appeals
2004 - 2023

Analysis of the context, crisis and the needs

The protracted humanitarian crisis in Chad is becoming more entrenched due to growing food insecurity and malnutrition in some parts of the country; forced displacement; the effects of climate change; and political, socioeconomic, health and sanitation challenges. The combined effects of conflict, health emergencies and climate change affected an estimated 6.7 million people in 2022.

Food insecurity affects 6.1 million people, of whom 2.1 million are in the severe phase (phase 3 and above in the Cadre Harmonisé). The situation is deteriorating, and Chad is experiencing a third consecutive year of severe food insecurity and its worst lean season in the last 10 years. This situation is the result of a 9.09 per cent drop in cereal production for the 2021/2022 harvest compared with the previous year, and a 9.14 per cent drop compared to the average of the last five years. The situation is more worrying in the western Sahel provinces (Bahar-El-Ghazel, Hadjer Lamis, Kanem and Lac), where the decline reached 46 per cent compared to 2020/2021 and 21.7 per cent compared to the average of the last five years. This situation leads to depleted food stocks and to price increases of basic necessities by 30 to 40 per cent. The situation is exacerbated by the effects of the crisis in Ukraine and the prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which increase the population’s vulnerability.

Chad

Chawir Health Centre, Guéra Province, Chad

This woman has four children, including two-year-old Saad, who is malnourished. 

OCHA/Augustin Zusanne

Malnutrition in children aged 0-59 months remains a concern in Chad, with a prevalence of 10.9 per cent of global acute malnutrition (GAM) and 2 per cent of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). The situation is especially alarming in 16 of the 23 provinces that have exceeded the 10 per cent threshold of concern, and in 7 provinces that have surpassed the 15 per cent emergency threshold for GAM set by the World Health Organization. The high prevalence of malnutrition is a major contributor to the critical under-five mortality rate, which reached 2 persons/10,000 inhabitants/day in two provinces. Acute malnutrition affects 2 million children under age 5, including 380,000 children affected by SAM, 1.4 million affected by moderate acute malnutrition, and 248,000 pregnant and lactating women. Malnutrition is the result of several factors, including food insecurity, childhood diseases, conflict, prolonged displacement, and poor access to basic services such as health care, clean water and education.

On the security front, Chad continues to be affected by insecurity resulting from the insurgency of armed groups and by the fragile security situation in neighbouring countries: one million people are forcibly displaced. Chad hosts more than 573,762 refugees and asylum-seekers, mostly from Sudan, the Central African Republic (CAR), Nigeria and Cameroon, who depend primarily on humanitarian assistance. Attacks by armed groups in the Lake Chad basin and clashes between non-State armed groups (NSAGs) and the Chadian Army resulted in the cumulative displacement of 425,864 people, including 381,289 IDPs, 20,674 IDPs returned to their places of origin, and 101,551 Chadians who had lived for several years in neighbouring countries (Cameroon, CAR, Niger and Nigeria) but were forced to flee their places of residence in those countries to return to Chad. Expulsions of Chadian nationals from Libya to Ennedi West Province continued, with 1,899 expelled, including 209 in 2022.

Chad

Malfana, Prefecture de Mandelia, Chad

Sixty-year-old Maoula is one of many thousands of people who fled intercommunal clashes over scarce resources in Cameroon. 

UNHCR/Aristophane Ngargoune

In northern Chad, conflicts around gold mining areas on 23 and 24 May in Borkou Province caused 100 deaths and displaced many people, including 3,800 gold miners. Overall, the number of people forced to move around the country due to insecurity has reached an unprecedented level, with more than 1 million refugees, IDPs and returnees.

In Chad, nearly 2 million people are affected by health emergencies marked by recurrent diseases such as measles, malaria, leishmaniasis and polio. The most vulnerable among them are children under age 5, pregnant and nursing women, the disabled and the elderly. Chad remains exposed to cholera from endemic areas in neighbouring countries such as Cameroon and Nigeria.

In the face of these crises, women and girls are particularly vulnerable because of harmful social norms and cultural practices that contribute to barriers to accessing basic social services (health, education, protection, household economy) and to increasing cases of gender-based violence (GBV).

The humanitarian situation in Chad remains marked by acute and growing needs in a context of underfunding. At the end of October, 40 per cent of the funds required in 2022 had been mobilized. However, despite the lack of resources, humanitarian partners, in coordination with Government officials, managed to provide emergency assistance to 2 million people out of a target of 3.9 million comprising food, nutritional inputs, shelter, protection, health care, education, and water, hygiene and sanitation. Better funding would reduce the high vulnerability of crisis-affected people and promote proactive actions to increase their resiliency to shocks.

Chad experienced abundant rainfall in 2022. This led to major natural disasters marked by rain and river flooding, which affected 1.2 million people in 18 of the country's 23 provinces. This situation increases the vulnerabilities of populations already affected by other crises in a context of underdevelopment: 465,000 hectares of crops were destroyed, which will have a negative impact on agricultural production. The destruction of health structures and nutritional units has impacted access to primary health care and nutritional services. This situation also affects the education sector: rainwater destroyed 1,225 schools, causing 345,841 children to miss out on their education (including 202,658 girls and 143,183 boys).

Chad

Refugee camp on the Sudanese border, Chad

This camp hosts more than 25,000 Sudanese refugees. Most of them settled there almost 20 years ago when the conflict started in the country’s Darfur region. Others are fleeing the violence that began in recent years.

UNHCR/Xavier Bourgois

Projected situation in 2023 and beyond

Humanitarian crises in Chad are perpetuated by interconnected situations of forced population displacement, food insecurity and malnutrition, health emergencies and the consequences of climate change.

The effects of climate change, including flooding and drought, continue to increase the population’s vulnerability. People affected by the current floods will continue to depend on humanitarian assistance and livelihood support. Floods return every year on a cyclical basis and could still affect the population in 2023. The need to restore the functionality of destroyed health centres and schools and ensure access to basic social services, including access to drinking water and sanitation, will remain a major challenge. Regarding education, the high illiteracy rate (78 per cent, including 89 per cent among women; the schooling rate is 49.1 per cent) contributes to the exacerbation of intercommunal tensions.

The security context will continue to be affected by the dynamics of the political transition and intercommunal conflicts, armed conflicts and the security situation in neighbouring countries. The presence of NSAGs in the Lake Chad basin and the military operations against these groups are likely to perpetuate the current situation of forced displacement and cause new displacements on the Lake, as well as the arrival of refugees from Nigeria. Nearly 1 million people will be at risk of protection incidents, including 250,000 people who need protection from GBV; 250,000 children, including displaced and unaccompanied children and separated children; and 200,000 people with other special needs, flood victims, and victims of intercommunal conflict.

Chad

Lake Chad border region, Chad

Forty-year-old Loura, a mother of six, used to sell fish in Tagal village, on Lake Chad. She is from Teteoua village on an island in Lake Chad, which was attacked by Boko Haram Islamist militants in 2015. 

UNHCR/Sylvain Cherkaoui

Continued armed conflict in northern CAR affects the potential return of 124,509 Central African refugees in southern Chad, and it remains a factor of insecurity that could result in additional Central African refugees and Chadian returnees during the year. In addition, security instability in Libya will result in new waves of returnees to northern Chad. However, political developments in Sudan could lead to the gradual return of Sudanese refugees from eastern Chad if conditions for safe and dignified return are guaranteed. Intercommunal conflicts, particularly conflicts between farmers and herders, remain major factors of insecurity that could cause loss of life and property in the east, west, around N'Djamena, and in the south. Approximately 40,000 Cameroonian refugees who escaped intercommunal conflict in the far north of Cameroon remain displaced and dependent on humanitarian assistance in Chari Baguirmi Province and in the city of N'Djamena until living conditions and security are established in the area.

The food insecurity and malnutrition crisis that the Government declared in June 2022 could increase further with the significant destruction of food stocks, sown fields, livestock and livelihoods due to the flooding. Access to basic social services, particularly health services and education, will remain difficult, especially with the lack of adequate health-care services; the persistence of epidemics such as measles, leishmaniasis, meningitis and malaria; the inadequacy of school infrastructure; and the lack of qualified teachers.

Response priorities in 2023

In 2023, the humanitarian response will continue to be guided by three strategic objectives defined by the Humanitarian Country Team and aligned with development planning. The humanitarian response will aim to save and preserve life and dignity through integrated, coordinated and complementary multisectoral emergency assistance; reduce vulnerability by building resilience and resistance to recurrent shocks; and contribute to the protection of the most vulnerable populations, particularly children, girls and women, the elderly, and people living with disabilities, and to strengthen accountability to affected populations.

The priority approach of the response will promote an integrated multisectoral approach through defined multisectoral strategies (WASH in NUTRITION, WASH in SCHOOL, WASH in HEALTH), including for refugees, and it will reinforce the complementarity between humanitarian, development and peace actions to contribute to the achievement of collective results. This approach will also devote particular attention to the centrality of protection, gender and accountability. Community-based approaches to assistance and localization will be strengthened for the sustainability of interventions. In this context, strengthening Government leadership and finding durable solutions for people in situations of forced displacement (IDPs, returnees and refugees) will be a priority.

Planning will be based, among other things, on the specific vulnerabilities of women, girls, boys, the elderly and the disabled in order to prevent and respond to the various protection risks, including GBV. It will integrate protection concerns and address the humanitarian impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The centrality of protection, gender and accountability to affected populations will be reinforced through community-based approaches and disaggregation of data to prevent protection risks and ensure the respect of basic human rights, taking into account the situation of people with specific needs. Emergency preparedness, response and risk reduction measures remain vitally important to mitigate the humanitarian consequences of climate change. The use of cash-transfer modalities, based on a feasibility and market accessibility study, will be further strengthened. Measures to prevent the sexual abuse and exploitation of beneficiaries will be strengthened through sensitizing humanitarian staff and beneficiaries alike and implementing monitoring and complaint management mechanisms.

In 2023, the humanitarian community estimates that 6.9 million people will need humanitarian assistance out of Chad's population of 18 million. This population is estimated based on last year's projected needs, with the addition of a growing estimate of people affected by flooding. The calculation takes into account people affected by severe food insecurity and people under food pressure in crisis zones (phase 2 of the March 2022 Cadre Harmonisé for the projected period from June to September), the consequences of flood-related natural disasters in 2022, and updated data on people in forced displacement situations. Data from the Cadre Harmonisé, population movements, and the number of malnourished children and flood victims are used to calculate the number of people in need because of their geographical importance and to avoid double counting.

The humanitarian response will target 4.5 million people, with an estimated funding requirement of US$570 million. This funding is an increase from the Humanitarian Response Plan 2022 ($510.9 million) due to the increased target caused by flood-related natural disasters.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

People in Need at launch (Dec. 2022)
26.4 million
People Targeted at launch (Dec. 2022)
10.0 million
Requirements (US$) at launch (Dec. 2022)
2.3 billion
Total Population
95.2 million
Income level
Low income
INFORM Severity Index
7.6 / Very High
Consecutive appeals
1999 - 2023

Analysis of the context, crisis and needs

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) context remains illustrated by worrying humanitarian trends. Across the country, 26.4 million people – or one Congolese out of four – are severely food insecure, despite the impressive agricultural potential of the land. Acute malnutrition hit 6.4 million people, mainly children under age 5, a number that has not decreased over the past 20 years. Armed conflicts and gross human rights violations, including sexual violence and grave violations against children, continue to push millions of people to seek safety and security away from their home: 5.7 million people are internally displaced, the highest number on the African continent. Severe yet preventable epidemics, such as measles, yellow fever, cholera and malaria, take a significant human toll every year due to poor infrastructure, constraints to health access and a low vaccination coverage, impacting children’s development and their life expectancy at birth. Every hour in DRC, four women die during labour or from pregnancy-related conditions. DRC ranks among the countries with the highest rate of infant mortality: 70 out of 1,000 living births. In 2022, DRC still ranks among the countries with one of the lowest human development across the world (179 out of 191), with a scoring even lower than in 2020. Sixty million (out of 109 million) Congolese live in extreme poverty.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Nod-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

These displaced people found shelter at Stade de Rugabo, Rutshuru centre, after fleeing clashes in Jomba.  

OCHA/Endurance Lum Nji

The situation has not improved in 2022. On the contrary, the security situation that fuels the humanitarian crisis and lasting needs has further deteriorated with the resurgence of armed conflicts in the east and the emergence of new crises in areas previously spared by violence. North-Kivu Province has triggered international attention, as the M23 (an armed group that signed a Peace Agreement with DRC in 2013) resumed its attacks and occupied several localities, forcing 271,000 people to flee to safer areas in DRC, and across the Ugandan border. In the north-east, violence has spread across Ituri Province, as armed groups have expanded their presence across all territories and perpetrated dozens of attacks against civilians, including those living in IDP settlements. The use of improvised explosive devices increased in 2022, with dozens of civilian casualties. Pockets of insecurity remain in hard-to-reach areas across South-Kivu and Tanganyika Provinces, triggering constant population displacements and large-scale violations of human rights. Close to the capital, Kinshasa, intercommunal violence erupted by mid-2022 in Maï-Ndombe Province, causing 55,000 people to flee and seek safety, including across the shore in neighbouring Republic of Congo.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Nord-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Many people fled violence in Rutshuru, taking refuge in places including schools and churches and with host families.

OCHA/Endurance Lum Nji

Weak health-and-sanitation infrastructures, a low vaccination coverage and acute malnutrition continue to trigger epidemics, with a severe impact on the life expectancy of children under age 5. As of 23 October, 12,066 cases of cholera and 123,301 cases of measles were confirmed, with 218 and 1,490 deaths recorded, respectively. There were also recorded cases of contamination and deaths relating to other epidemics, such as bubonic plague, in areas where they are endemic. During the year, humanitarian actors supported the Government to successfully fight two Ebola outbreaks, one in the western province of Equateur (five deaths) and one in the eastern province of North-Kivu (one death). At least 181 security incidents directly affecting humanitarian personnel or assets were reported from January to August 2022. Nineteen humanitarian workers were abducted, 19 were injured and 4 lost their lives while providing assistance to people in need. These numbers show no improvements in the situation compared to the same reporting period for 2021 (19 humanitarian workers abducted, 19 injured, 5 lost their lives).

Projected situation in 2023 and beyond

The humanitarian response in DRC is one of the longest running on the continent. Until a solution to the conflict is identified, humanitarian needs are likely to continue to increase, with insufficient levels of funding to assist all those in need. The East African Community is expected to deploy troops to support the Congolese armed forces in stabilizing the east of the country. The Government of DRC has entered into talks with most armed groups to push for an efficient demobilization process, but some armed groups are still actively fighting and unlikely to be persuaded to sign a peace agreement in the near future. Intensified attacks against civilians by armed groups, or civilian casualties during crossfire, may trigger further large-scale displacements in areas where welcoming capacities are already saturated. A large majority of displaced people are women and children. They face specific protection risks, such as sexual violence or forced recruitment, in the locality where they shelter or as they flee violence.

In 2023, presidential, legislative and local elections are planned to take place. There are major concerns as to whether elections can take place peacefully, or if they will likely trigger renewed tensions and conflicts.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Chefferie Tundwa, Territoire de Kalemie, Province du Tanganyika

Amida and her children fled violence in their home region, but they recently returned and will soon receive ownership documents for a plot of land.

OCHA/Aurélie DURAY

Natural disasters will likely continue across the country and negatively impact the humanitarian situation. There is a strong need to identify durable solutions to cyclical events to increase the affected population’s resilience and strengthen their ability to prepare for and respond to natural disasters. Floods, crop destruction, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions remain among the high risks that can exacerbate the population’s vulnerability, especially in conflict-affected zones.

The management of the last two Ebola epidemics was efficient in limiting the human death toll and the contamination rate. However, it is likely that measles, cholera, malaria, another outbreak of Ebola, and outbreaks of diseases such as bubonic plague or monkeypox will continue to break out across the country. This is particularly true as massive displacements in short periods of time force IDPs and host communities to share overcrowded spaces, with insufficient access to water and sanitation facilities. In hard-to-reach and remote areas, the vaccination coverage rate remains largely insufficient to eradicate these diseases that are contributing to drastically reducing the life expectancy of Congolese children. Widespread malnutrition among children and pregnant and lactating women, fostered by extreme poverty and deprivation, will continue to further expose children under age 5 to these epidemics, putting their lives at risk. A large percentage of the population will remain food insecure due to widespread poverty, conflict and displacement, low agricultural production, high food prices and the lack of basic infrastructure. However, the latest IPC analyses report that a slight decrease in acute food insecurity is projected during the first half of 2023, with 24.5 million people likely to be in IPC Phase 3, crisis or higher.

Response priorities in 2023

By the end of 2022, the humanitarian community in DRC expects to have reached 6.24 million people, or 71 per cent of the initial target. This is lower than the amount of people reached in 2021 (6.6 million people). As of October 2022, US$703.7 million has been received, which represents 37 per cent of the required funding to address the needs of the targeted population affected by the humanitarian crisis in 2022. Since 2016, the DRC Humanitarian Response Plan has been systematically underfunded, covering less than half of the targeted population. While funding levels have not necessarily decreased, needs have skyrocketed in the past years, from 7 million people in need in 2015, to 13 million in 2018, to 27 million in 2022. As violent conflicts persist, and as natural disasters continue to strike, the number of people in need will likely continue to rise over the years. In 2023, of the 26 million people in need, the humanitarian community will aim to assist 10 million people across the country, using the same prioritization criteria as in 2022, with an estimated financial requirement of $2.25 billion — the highest amount requested in the past 20 years. The number of people in need reflects the number of acutely food insecure people across DRC, which is slightly lower than last year. However, the funding requirement increased due to the price increases of fuel and commodities worldwide. In DRC, the cost of reaching vulnerable people who need humanitarian assistance in poorly connected areas has largely increased due to a stark increase in fuel prices. The prices of food and commodities on local market have rocketed, especially those of imported products. The response strategy will continue to focus on addressing the consequences of the five humanitarian impacts that define the intersectoral severity analysis: population movements, food insecurity, malnutrition, epidemics and protection incidents.

While key figures remain annual, the strategic framework of the response will be reconducted in 2023 to enable humanitarian actors to increase their collaboration with non-humanitarian actors so that collective efforts are made to address structural needs across DRC.

In 2023, the Humanitarian Country Team will focus on ensuring the quality of the humanitarian assistance delivered, further advancing accountability and community engagement. The strategic objectives of the response, focused on responding to urgent needs and improving living conditions, have been revised in order to emphasize the quality and timeliness of the response in light of the specific needs encountered by all groups of people affected by the humanitarian crisis. Strategic indicators were added to assess beneficiaries’ satisfaction regarding the assistance received, their level of trust and confidence in humanitarian actors, and their knowledge and use of feedback mechanisms, restating that all responses should be tailored to ensure the people we serve are at the centre of all actions. Another set of indicators has been added to measure humanitarian actors’ capacities to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, to identify, mitigate and respond to sexual and gender-based violence, to mainstream protection, and to ensure that assistance is gender and age sensitive. The response strategy also focuses on advancing the localization agenda by putting national and local organizations and associations at the heart of the response strategy, and supporting their capacities to develop and implement tailored programmes to respond to people’s needs.

Mali

People in Need at launch (Dec. 2022)
9 million
People Targeted at launch (Dec. 2022)
6.2 million
Requirements (US$) at launch (Dec. 2022)
868.2 million
Total Population
21.5 million
Income level
Low income
INFORM Severity Index
6.9 / Very High
Consecutive appeals
2012 – 2023

Analysis of the context, crisis and needs

Mali’s multidimensional crisis fuelled by insecurity, conflicts, climate change and lack of access to basic social services is causing dire humanitarian needs. The economic sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States in the first half of 2022 worsened the existing living conditions and reduced the State’s investment required for a return of State authorities and the provision of social services in conflict-affected areas.

An increase in the number of attacks, armed groups’ blockades of villages, restrictions on civilians' freedom of movement, and denial to basic social services and livelihoods is reported. The insecurity is compounded by the extension of the armed actors’ areas of influence, the use of improvized explosive devices (IEDs) and military operations. This resulted in the shrinking of humanitarian space and restricted humanitarian operations. Control over the mining and illicit trafficking routes is a main driver of the increased conflict between armed actors in the north, west and south-eastern border regions as well as the conflict in Burkina Faso.

The growing insecurity triggered the displacement of more than 440,436 IDPs, mostly children (63 per cent) and women (54 per cent), exceeding the peak of 350,000 IDPs in June 2013. In addition, Mali hosts 57,444 refugees from neighbouring countries, and 182,107 Malian refugees remain in neighbouring countries.

Mali

Mopti, Mali

A young girl eats rice. 

WFP/Benoit Lognone

As of September 2022, protection actors reported 6,852 protection incidents compared to 5,124 cases registered during the same period in 2021. Other reports confirmed the deteriorating protection situation, with more than 800 serious children’s-rights violations (787 incidents in 2021) and 9,908 gender-based violence (GBV) incidents (5,486 cases in 2021), while identifying 1,929 unaccompanied or separated children, including 681 girls. Civilians remain highly affected by IEDs, as they comprise 40 per cent of the casualties compared to 28 per cent in 2021.

Food insecurity remains worrisome, with 1.8 million Malians (10 per cent of the population) in need of food assistance during the lean season. According to the IPC (Integrated food security Phase Classification) analysis, 32 out of 51 circles are in severity phase 3, and one circle (Tidermène; Ménaka region) is in critical phase 4.

Malnutrition levels are alarming across the country, with a global acute malnutrition prevalence of 10.8 per cent and a severe acute malnutrition prevalence of 2.1 per cent in 2022.

Moreover, more than 1,950 schools (23 per cent) in Mali are closed due to insecurity or used as shelters, affecting more than 587,000 children, mainly in Ménaka and Mopti regions.

Despite limited funding and access constraints, humanitarian actors reached 2.5 million people by September, and they project reaching 3.2 million people by the year’s end. The 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) requested US$686 million to assist 5.3 million people. As of 2 November 2022, 31 per cent of the funds required ($210.6 million) was received.

Mali

Mopti, Mali

A child in an IDP camp receives a vaccination at a mobile clinic. 

Save the Children/El Hadj Touré

Projected situation in 2023 and beyond

In 2023, violent clashes between armed actors will increase across the north and centre of the country, exacerbating humanitarian needs. Increased security incidents are anticipated, particularly IEDs on main roads in the south-east Koutiala – Sikasso regions near the Burkina Faso border. Limited humanitarian access will likely impact humanitarian operations and the return of IDPs, State authorities and social services.

Food insecurity will continue to be of concern. According to the IPC analysis, 30 circles will likely experience the IPC 3 scenario, while six circles fall into IPC 4 (Anderaboukane, Ansongo, Diema, Gao, Nioro and Tidermène). Other sectors, such as education, WASH, protection, health and shelter, will follow this trend.

The compounded effect of the 2022 economic sanctions and global inflation will continue to increase the prices of basic household items, such as millet and sorghum. Price increases of over 100 per cent in the last year will further exacerbate vulnerabilities.

With chronic underfunding and unmet needs, there is a risk of widespread use of harmful coping or survival mechanisms, with children, girls and people with disabilities being the primary victims in 2023.

In 2023, 9 million out of 16 million crisis-affected people will need immediate humanitarian assistance, compared to 7.5 million in 2022, a 20 per cent increase. IDPs, host communities, returnees and refugees remain the targeted groups. The specific needs of the elderly with chronic diseases, children, people with disabilities, and pregnant and lactating women are prioritized subgroups.

Mali

Mali

Two children observe their shelters. 

WFP/Benoit Lognone

Response priorities in 2023

In 2023, the humanitarian programme targeting will be based on people’s vulnerability (70 per cent) and people's status as IDPs, refugees and returnees, and use activity-based costing to improve the HRP’s transparency and governance. Furthermore, opportunities for synergies with the Government's action plans, CREDD+, stabilization of the central regional strategy, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework have been identified in line with these three strategic objectives:

  • Save and preserve lives and dignity of people with critical needs in crisis areas.
  • Ensure minimal and equitable population access to basic social services and living conditions.
  • Strengthen the emergency preparedness of vulnerable households affected by shocks in crisis areas.

Intersectoral and multisectoral interventions, such as sexual, reproductive and mental health; food assistance; livelihoods support; health and nutritional emergencies management; GBV response and protection activities, will be implemented through cross-cutting approaches such as prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, accountability, including complaints mechanisms, people with disabilities, gender, cash, localization, environment and centrality of protection.

The HRP 2023 requires $868 million to meet the growing life-saving needs and deteriorating living conditions of 6.2 million targeted people. This is an increase of 17 per cent compared to 2022.

Niger

People in Need at launch (Dec. 2022)
4.2 million
People Targeted at launch (Dec. 2022)
2.3 million
Requirements (US$) at launch (Dec. 2022)
660 million
Total Population
26.1 million
Income level
Low income
INFORM Severity Index
7.5 / Very High
Consecutive appeals
2011 - 2023

Analysis of the context, crisis and needs

Niger continues to face multiple complex humanitarian needs related to escalating conflict-related violence and socioeconomic challenges. The number of people in need has almost doubled, from 1.9 million in 2017 to 3.7 million in 2022. Violence related to the activities of armed groups in the country (in border areas) and surrounding countries (Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria) continues to be the main cause of internal displacement and influx of refugee requiring protection, and of stress on access to essential social services. The effects of climate change are exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition among the local population in a context of high poverty and low levels of socioeconomic development in some areas. In addition, the effects of climate change (seasonal floods, pockets of drought), the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences of the war in Ukraine have exacerbated vulnerabilities and led to increased humanitarian needs.

2022 was marked by the deterioration of the security situation in new departments in the regions of Diffa (N'guigmi), Tahoua (Bagaroua and Madaoua) and Tillabéri (Torodi, Say and Kollo). The numbers of IDPs and refugees have increased by 42.6 per cent and 2 per cent, respectively, compared to last year. As of 30 September, the Government has reported 376,000 IDPs and 253,000 refugees. During the same period, the Protection Cluster recorded 2,805 protection incidents compared with 3,614 throughout 2021. This number could be reached by the year’s end, given the security situation. The number of cases of child rights violations has increased by 25 per cent compared to the same period in 2021 (from 430 to 537). Due to insecurity, 890 schools remained closed (817 of which were in Tillabéri), which is a 36 per cent increase compared to 2021.

Due to rainfall deficits in 2021, agricultural yields were very low. The Cadre Harmonisé of March 2022 estimated 4.4 million people were food insecure (phases 3 and 4) during the lean season (March–June 2022). An estimated 2.4 million people required nutritional assistance.

Niger

Niamey, Niger

Amina lost her home and all her belongings to floods. She said: “We are living in a tent, worried every time we hear the rain coming."

OCHA/Michele Cattani

Regarding floods, the Government reported more than 327,000 people affected (as of 23 October), including 195 deaths. This is more than double the number of deaths recorded in 2020.

A cholera epidemic was declared in the Maradi and Zinder regions in August. As of 25 October, there were 68 reported cases of cholera, including 2 deaths.

Niger experienced a slight outbreak of COVID-19 in August. As of October 29, the country has recorded 9,428 positive cases, including 314 deaths.

The lingering effects of climate change combined with the challenges of endemic poverty, limited access to essential services and livelihoods, and human rights violations in conflict-affected areas will undoubtedly continue to affect the protection of the most vulnerable communities and increase their humanitarian needs. Underfunding and access remain major constraints to humanitarian operations. Despite limited resources (43 per cent of the Humanitarian Response Plan [HRP] was funded by the end of October), humanitarian actors, in coordination with State service partners, have assisted over 3 million people, which is more than 100 per cent of their target. Overall performance is largely driven by the number of people reached through food assistance provided during the lean season, which has seen unprecedented numbers of people who need immediate and urgent food assistance. It is important to note that following the March 2022 Cadre Harmonisé analysis, the Food security target was revised upwards to 4.1 million beneficiaries (2.6 supported by humanitarian actors and 1.5 by the Government). However, there has been no revision of the HRP and therefore the HRP food security target has remained at 2,2 million people.

More funding would ensure that no one is left behind, and that assistance in other sectors is improved. It would also allow for more resilient actions to reverse the trend of increasing humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable people.

Aid in Action

When The River Breaks: Hama’s Story

Niger
OCHA

Hama's house was wiped out by a flood, since then he has lived in a site for displaced people in Niger.

Projected situation in 2023 and beyond

In 2023, it is estimated that 4.2 million people will be in need in Niger. The estimated figure was derived from a thorough analysis of a multisector needs assessment conducted in June 2022, area assessment data (e.g. Cadre Harmonisé and SMART survey) and shock-prone risk analyses. The estimated figure is a provisional number awaiting the update of the findings of the Nutrition SMART survey in November 2022. The identified needs are multisectoral, and their degree of severity varies across departments and the affected groups of IDPs, refugees, returnees and host communities. Despite the rains, the number of food insecure people and malnourished children is expected to remain high. Diffa, Tahoua and Tillaberi will remain the most affected even if the situation continues to deteriorate in Maradi. Populations whose livelihoods depend on agriculture will be the most affected. Due to a lack of investment in and reduced funding for the prevention of disaster risk reduction strategies, the number of people and areas affected by flooding will continue to increase.

Niger

Ouallam displacement camp, Niger

More than 28,000 internally displaced people and refugees have found refuge in Ouallam camp.

OCHA/Laura Fultang

Response priorities in 2023

As of 30 September, 2.8 million people (124 per cent of the target) have received food assistance, and 247,430 people (29 per cent of the target) have received WASH assistance. Lack of access and insufficient resources are still the main causes for not reaching more people, especially in hard-to-reach areas where humanitarian needs are acute.

The humanitarian community projects that 2.3 million people will be targeted to receive multisectoral assistance in 2023. The response targets vulnerable groups in acute need, factoring in their preferences and priorities, access constraints, response modalities, the severity of needs, the gender dimension and the clusters’ operational capacity to deliver.

The contribution to durable solutions for IDPs should be explored as part of the nexus strategy, particularly in non-active conflict areas. In alignment with the UN Capital Development Fund, the humanitarian community has developed a three-year strategy. Thus, a coordinated approach between humanitarian, development and peace actors will ensure that areas of high vulnerability are addressed collectively through the sequencing and layering of interventions to reduce the needs of identified individuals. A capacity-building effort for local actors will allow for better integration of localization.

Nigeria

People in Need at launch (Dec. 2022)
8.3 million
People Targeted at launch (Dec. 2022)
5.4 million
Requirements (US$) at launch (Dec. 2022)
1.2 billion
Total Population
216.7 million
Income level
Lower middle income
INFORM Severity Index
6.4 / High
Consecutive appeals
2014 - 2023

Analysis of the context, crisis and needs

The humanitarian crisis in the north-east Nigerian states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe is continuing at scale after 13 years. There has been no reprieve in the severity of the crisis or in the deterioration of the living conditions of people impacted by the crisis; they continue to face significant uncertainty, as well as deprivation well above pre-existing poverty levels and no access to basic service. People are also exposed to daily threats to their health and safety. Some local government areas (LGAs) have crude mortality rates that are higher than the rates during the height of the war. The mass exodus in 2022 of thousands of people from areas controlled by non-State armed groups (NSAGs) included thousands of fighters and their families. Despite this, violence continues unabated. Peace or security across most conflict-affected zones seems a distant prospect, especially in Borno State, as attacks by NSAGs continue at scale.

Protection needs are endemic, especially for women and girls, who are threatened by violence, abduction, rape and other types of gender-based violence, including forced and child marriage, and other violations of their rights. Children are also at risk of forced recruitment when unaccompanied and separated from their families, especially when they were formerly associated with armed groups. Women and girls still lack adequate protection, access to basic services, livelihoods, as well as access to justice and meaningful participation in decision-making processes.

Nigeria

Maiduguri, Nigeria

Schoolchildren in Nigeria.

OCHA/Damilola Onafuwa

The operating environment remains highly volatile: in Borno State, all the main supply routes are unsafe for civilians, aid workers and cargo. Over the past few years, some regions in Adamawa and Yobe have seen significant improvements in security. However, aid organizations continue to face significant security threats.

Conflict and insecurity continue to cut people off from their main means of livelihood, namely agricultural lands. This is one of the major causes of food insecurity in north-east Nigeria. Females are at greater risk of having to resort to harmful coping mechanisms, such as survival sex, to get food or to meet other critical needs. Males in desperation are more easily lured into NSAGs.

Humanitarian funding for Nigeria has declined steadily since its peak in 2017, except for last year. The Humanitarian Country Team’s two-year humanitarian strategy 2022 -2023 is making the most of limited resources and capacity. It will also ensure that the humanitarian community does so collectively – that humanitarian action in the north-east is more than the sum of its parts. The strategy’s coherence, improved targeting based on vulnerability, and improved prioritization aim to mitigate expected funding shortfalls.

Nigeria

Maiduguri , Nigeria

Thirty-year-old Ummi Umar, a mother of 5, left her hometown in Gubio four years ago due to violence.

OCHA/Damilola Onafuwa

Projected situation in 2023 and beyond

The comprehensive multi-risk assessment, combined with the multi-sectoral needs assessment in August 2022, projects a slight decrease in the 2023 people in need figure (8.3 million). This is a 1 per cent decrease compared to last year (8.4 million). Needs are multisectoral, and they vary in severity across geographic areas and among the three affected groups comprising IDPs (who still number over 2.2 million people), returnees and host communities. The analysis shows that some 268,000 people are categorized as being in the worst or “catastrophic” category. This is more than double last year’s number, indicating that humanitarian needs are deepening.

In addition to a considerable number of people in need being in a catastrophic situation in two LGAs in Borno, some 3.1 million people are in a ‘extreme’ (severity score 4) situation across 17 LGAs, and some 2.1 million people are in a ‘severe’ situation. Nineteen LGAs have a severity score of 3, 22 have a severity score of 2 (‘severe’) and 5 are ‘minimal’. Regarding access, some 24 per cent of all wards (the lowest administrative level) are considered extremely hard to reach, primarily in Borno State.

Nigeria

Maiduguri, Nigeria

Garba Muhammed Abdul, 46, participates in the Farmer Field School. He looks forward to being able to raise capital to buy his own livestock.

OCHA/Damilola Onafuwa

Response priorities in 2023

To address the gravest threats to life, health and safety, humanitarian partners will focus on improving IDP camp conditions and protection, while addressing risk of communicable diseases, extreme food insecurity and malnutrition, and promoting resilience through activities such as livelihoods interventions. In parallel, despite the likelihood that the conflict and insecurity will continue, opportunities will be sought in moving some affected people progressively out of crisis to safe and stable areas.

Since funding may barely suffice for the critical life-saving actions alone, this strategy is one of prioritization. Based on the intersectoral analysis of severity of needs, life-saving actions will focus on the areas and vulnerable populations in the most severe humanitarian situation, as well as specific life-saving sectors. The sectors will collaborate to address challenges that require coordinated or joined-up actions (e.g. addressing malnutrition). As a secondary priority, actions will seek to address the critical causes of risk to life and health. The aim is also to strengthen area-based, intersectoral approaches to coordination, planning, implementation and advocacy.

The third priority is to help people move out of crisis and extreme situations, i.e. address their vulnerability. This includes efforts to improve resilience and find displacement solutions. Efforts will be made to improve resilience through improved and diversified livelihoods. Opportunities will be sought in safe and secure areas to allow Government, humanitarian and development actors to create the conditions for safe and dignified return or relocation. Resettlement in safe third locations will be possible for some people. Integration in communities around the displacement sites is likely to be a larger-scale option in the immediate term. Nexus action and opportunities are highly circumscribed: the rampant insecurity leaves little room for development initiatives, though Adamawa and Yobe States may offer more scope for such activities.

For the majority of people, with no feasible durable solution yet, progressing out of crisis consists of greater resilience, mainly in livelihoods. There is no reason that displaced people should remain unemployed and dependent on humanitarian aid for years while durable solutions are possible through supportive services. Not all of these solutions are amenable to humanitarian action, but programmes under this strategy will emphasize those actions that bring higher resilience and independence to displaced people.

Aid in Action

Protection Crisis in North-East Nigeria – Amina’s Story

Nigeria
OCHA

Aisha’s daughter Amina, age 7, has been sexually abused three times. She is one of the millions of girls trapped in a brewing protection crisis in north-east Nigeria.

References

  1. Based on functional availability of six basic services: water, healthcare, education, electricity, mobile telephone coverage and functioning markets.
  2. CONASUR as of 31 October 2022
  3. 2. Protection, shelter, site management, education and WASH were less than 15% funded as of 31 October 2022.
  4. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, 18 October 2022 : Democratic Republic of the Congo : Acute Food Insecurity Situation July – December 2022 and Projection for January – June 2023, https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1155972/?iso3=COD
  5. UNFPA, 17 septembre 2021: https://drc.unfpa.org/fr/news/unfpa-engag%C3%A9-%C3%A0-sauver-des-vies-de-femmes-et-nouveau-n%C3%A9s-en-rdc
  6. Mali CMP Figures as of 30 September 2022
  7. Circles are the second-level administrative unit level
  8. Observatoire du Suivi des Marchés Agricoles (OMA)
  9. Niger Humanitarian dashboard Q3 2022