Introduction
Niger continues to suffer significant humanitarian needs due to:
- conflicts
- displacement
- food insecurity
- child malnutrition
- climatic hazards
- epidemics
The violence affecting several regions, especially in the border areas with Nigeria, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mali, continues to force people to leave their homes.
Low community resilience, endemic poverty, a very high demographic pressure (+3% population growth rate), poor access to basic social infrastructure and services, and economic opportunities exacerbate the country's vulnerability.
Delivering humanitarian aid to these vulnerable populations in this context remains a challenge. On 26 July 2023, after a military coup, the newly established authorities decided to close the border with Benin, which had been serving as a main supply route. This made the import of humanitarian supplies and food items much more time-consuming and costly.
In this challenging context for aid delivery ongoing shocks of various kinds, including insecurity and persistent violence, cause forced displacement and the need for assistance and protection.
What are the needs?
2.6 million people need humanitarian assistance in Niger (more than 9% of the population), among the lowest-ranking countries on the United Nations Human Development Index (189th out of 193 countries).
During the 2025 lean season (June to August), around 2.2 million people are estimated to need emergency food assistance.
Around 459,000 people across the country have been displaced due to violence. Additionally, over 433,000 refugees are hosted by Niger, having fled insecurity mostly from neighbouring Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria.
Over 440,000 children under the age of 5 are suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
More than 11% of children under 5 are experiencing mortality, a population that barely has access to adequate sanitation, which has low school attendance and enforces harmful practices such as early marriage.
As of May 2025, more than 1000 schools remained closed due to insecurity, with most of them in Tillabéri region.
Compounded by climate-related problems, the security crisis that has affected the country for almost a decade continues to provoke forced population movements and disrupt access to humanitarian aid.
How are we helping?
The EU is one of the leading humanitarian donors in Niger, providing emergency and life-saving aid to people in need. The assistance focuses on the regions in Niger most affected by conflict dynamics (Tillabéry, Tahoua, Diffa, and Maradi) and aims to address the acute humanitarian needs of the populations most impacted by the conflicts.
EU humanitarian funding supports regions affected by conflict, epidemics, widespread food shortages, and high undernourishment rates among children. It focuses primarily on covering basic needs, including:
- food
- shelter
- health
- nutritional care
- access to water
- education for children caught up in humanitarian crises
The EU also provides protection to vulnerable people affected by conflict (victims of gender-based violence, unaccompanied children, disabled people), natural hazards floods or epidemics and humanitarian air services.
Humanitarian crises caused by conflict escalate rapidly. Through the rapid response mechanism, the EU supports organisations responding quickly to meet the basic needs of vulnerable people when they face specific shocks.
In addition, the EU works to strengthen the preparedness of communities and authorities facing:
- recurrent food and nutritional crises
- natural hazards
- population displacements
In light of the volatile security situation in Niger, the EU continues to advocate for a safe working environment for humanitarian workers, where respect for humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law provides the basis for the humanitarian agenda and response.
Facts & figures
More than 2.6 million people in need of humanitarian aid in 2025 (OCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview)
459,000 internally displaced people in the regions of Diffa, Maradi, Tahoua, Tillabéri and Niamey
About 433,000 refugees hosted in Niger, primarily from Nigeria and Mali and from various other countries, including Burkina Faso, Chad, and Sudan.
Last updated: 31/07/2024