Humanitarian needs in the Sahel are predicted to rise in 2026 due to the convergence of armed conflict, forced displacement, climate change, and economic hardship, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Humanitarian aid and protection are needed for an estimated 24.3 million people in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, northern Cameroon, and northeastern Nigeria. Regional resilience is being further undermined by rising instability, food shortages, hunger, and interrupted access to health and education services. Despite a planned response aimed at 15.3 million, humanitarian agencies are being forced to prioritize aid for only 8.3 million individuals with the most critical needs due to significant financing shortages. OCHA demands more international money, better access for humanitarian aid, more robust civilian protection, and a deeper integration of peacebuilding, sustainable development, and humanitarian efforts.
Sahel: OCHA warns of worsening humanitarian needs in 2026 | UNOWAS