As part of a massive $33 billion global humanitarian initiative for 2026, the United Nations and its partners are calling for $5.1 billion to support 24 million of the most vulnerable individuals across West and Central Africa.
By 2026, it is estimated that over 42 million people will require emergency assistance to survive and maintain their safety in nations including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, Niger, Nigéria, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Chad.
“Without the immediate allocation of resources, families in West and Central Africa will be pushed into deeper hunger, further displacement, and increased protection risks, leading to even greater suffering,” warned Charles Bernimolin, the Regional Head of OCHA for the area.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the region is grappling with an intensifying emergency. Persistent violence, ongoing conflicts, and climate-related disasters continue to uproot families, stripping them of their ability to meet basic survival needs.
Growing instability in the Sahel and Lake Chad basin
The insecurity currently plaguing the Central Sahel—specifically Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—is now spilling over into neighboring countries such as Bénin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Mauritanie. Simultaneously, the volatility in the Lake Chad basin and the ongoing war in Sudan are forcing even more people to flee their homes.
Currently, millions remain displaced throughout the territory, including 12.7 million internally displaced persons and 3.7 million refugees and asylum seekers. The majority of those affected are women and children, many of whom have been forced to relocate multiple times. These populations face heightened dangers, including gender-based violence and exploitation, with frequent reports of sexual assault and survival sex.
While conflict spreads, the climate crisis is making the situation even more precarious. In 2025, torrential rains and flooding impacted over 2 million people across 12 countries, ruining harvests, destroying homes, and blocking access to vital healthcare and education. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was hit especially hard, with more than 830,000 people affected by these environmental shocks.
The critical toll of budget shortfalls
OCHA points out that despite the support of donors in 2025, humanitarian efforts in the region faced a massive funding deficit. Of the $7.8 billion requested, only $1.8 billion was actually provided—a mere 24% of the total requirement.
These financial gaps have forced aid organizations to scale back their operations and make painful decisions regarding which communities and regions receive help.
The results of these cuts have been catastrophic. In the Central African Republic, for instance, the number of individuals receiving cash assistance plummeted by 75%, severely limiting their ability to purchase essentials. In the DRC, where conflict has triggered new waves of mass displacement, 85% of those targeted for emergency shelter assistance received no help at all.
Despite these challenges, humanitarian partners remain committed to addressing the most urgent needs in West and Central Africa.
By the end of 2025, aid workers expect to have provided some form of help to 19 million people in the region. However, humanitarian agencies emphasized that the lack of adequate funding has left millions of others without the support they desperately need.
