Introduction
Niger continues to suffer significant humanitarian needs due to conflicts, displacement, food insecurity, child malnutrition, and epidemics.
The violence affecting several regions continues forcing people to abandon their homes, displacing around 376,000 people across the country. Additionally, 255,000 refugees have fled insecurity from neighbouring Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria.
Delivering humanitarian aid to these vulnerable populations remains a challenge due to the ongoing violence.
What are the needs?
More than 4.3 million people need humanitarian assistance in Niger, among the lowest-ranking countries on the United Nations Human Development Index (189/191).
Around 2 million people are in a food insecurity situation (Cadre Harmonisé November 2022). Some 2.8 are projected at risk of being severely food insecure during the 2023 lean season (June – August).
In 2022, Niger faced an unprecedented food crisis, with 4.4 million people in food insecurity during the lean season. This is due to poor rainfall patterns, increased staple food prices, and conflict/insecurity.
The global acute malnutrition rate for children under 5 years is 12.2%, and the prevalence of severe acute malnutrition is 2.5%, above the emergency threshold of 2%.
Non-state armed groups threaten civilian populations in neighbouring Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria. By December 2022, the bordering regions of Diffa, Maradi, Tahoua and Tillabéri hosted about 255,000 refugees.
In 2022, 878 schools were closed or non-operational due to armed conflict, affecting around 78,000 students, of which around 38,000 are girls.
Due to insecurity and administrative constraints, humanitarian access remains a challenge. Besides security concerns arising from conflicts, the government recommended using armed escorts for humanitarian actors, further limiting humanitarian access. Dialogues with the Government have allowed to better adapt to local humanitarian and security contexts.
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. In 2023, the EU has allocated €25 million in humanitarian aid.
Last year, the EU provided €49.7 million in humanitarian assistance. This included an indicative €6 million from the Emergency Development Fund to address the food crisis following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
EU humanitarian funding will support 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.
We also provide protection to vulnerable people affected by conflict (victims of gender-based violence, unaccompanied children, disabled people), natural hazards floods or epidemics, including COVID-19 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 and 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.
The European Commission provided €100 million in humanitarian assistance to support the rollout of vaccination campaigns in countries in Africa with critical humanitarian needs and fragile health systems.
In Niger, €1,950 million is allocated to support vaccination campaigns for the most vulnerable people, in particular migrants, internally displaced people, and refugees.
Last updated: 23/01/2023
Facts & figures
More than 4.3 million people in need of humanitarian aid in 2023 (OCHA, Humanitarian Needs Overview)
376,000 internally displaced people in the regions of Diffa, Maradi, Tahoua, and Tillabéri
Niger hosts about 255,000 refugees coming from Mali, Nigeria and Burkina Faso
EU humanitarian funding:
€25 million in 2023
€49.7 million in 2022