Nigeria — humanitarian situation

Nigeria faces a complex humanitarian emergency driven by armed conflict, banditry, communal violence, and food insecurity across multiple regions. During the first half of 2026, 5.9 million people confronted severe humanitarian needs in the Northeast, while 1.4 million remained displaced in the Northwest and 464,000 in Benue State UNICEF. In the BAY states—Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe—6.4 million people were projected to face severe food insecurity during the June-August lean season, with over 1.1 million at emergency levels (OCHA, cited in GBV AoR). Escalating violence across West and Central Africa has severely constrained humanitarian operations, with five aid workers killed, nine injured, and 14 kidnapped regionwide so far in 2026, predominantly affecting national staff OCHA. Malnutrition remains a critical concern, particularly in the Northeast where severe acute malnutrition continues to claim young lives. UNICEF and partners treated over 453,500 children with severe acute malnutrition across the Northeast and Northwest during the first half of 2026, achieving cure rates above global standards. At MSF's Nilefa Kiji nutrition facility in Maiduguri, intensive care units remain filled with severely wasted children whose weakened immunity renders them vulnerable to additional complications MSF. The cholera outbreak, which began earlier than usual, compounds health sector pressures alongside ongoing polio surveillance requirements WHO, UNICEF. Gender-based violence risks intensified in July due to conflict, camp closures, and food insecurity, with humanitarian workers requiring continued mental health support as they manage both service delivery and personal trauma (GBV AoR, MSF). Access constraints and funding cuts have significantly degraded protection capacities. Between February and April 2026, surveys across 22 country operations documented substantial impacts on mine action, child protection, and GBV programming due to reduced budgets (Protection Cluster, UNHCR). Despite these challenges, market functionality in northwestern states showed modest improvement, with the Minimum Expenditure Basket declining 13 percent to NGN 181,680 in June and staple availability increasing FACT. Cash remains the dominant payment mode at 36 percent of transactions in monitored areas.