Lake Chad Basin faces humanitarian crisis as violence displaces 3.5 million people
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
More than 3.5 million people have been forcibly displaced across the Lake Chad Basin due to escalating insecurity, affecting Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR reported that 8.2 million people now require humanitarian assistance in the region. Security incidents increased by 80 percent between January 2024 and April 2026, with nearly 1,800 incidents and over 5,700 fatalities recorded from September 2025 to May 2026. Borno State in northeastern Nigeria is identified as the crisis epicenter, with violence spreading to the North-West and parts of the Middle Belt. Since January 2026, over 77,500 people have been displaced, including 16,000 refugees from Nigeria who fled to Niger's Diffa region. Violence is increasingly spilling across national borders, with attacks in one country triggering displacement in neighboring states. Civilians bear the brunt, with one in five households feeling unsafe and women and girls facing increased risks of violence. The proportion of people knowing violence survivors rose from 19 percent in 2025 to 27 percent in 2026. Children are severely affected, with about half out of school in the worst-hit areas, and one in four respondents reporting separated or unaccompanied children in their communities. Andrew Wyllie, UNHCR Deputy Director for the West and Central Africa Bureau, commended governments for keeping borders open and supporting displaced communities. UNHCR and partners urgently need $29
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