Urgent call for 5.1 billion dollars to ease west africa and central africa humanitarian crisis

In the face of a deepening humanitarian crisis, the United Nations and its partners have issued a stark warning: without immediate action, millions across West and Central Africa will face severe hardship. A fresh appeal for $5.1 billion has been launched as part of a broader $33 billion global humanitarian funding request for 2026, aiming to support 24 million of the region’s most vulnerable individuals.

regional crisis demands urgent funding

The crisis spans multiple countries, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Chad. Charles Bernimolin, Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for West and Central Africa, sounded the alarm: “Without urgent resources, families will suffer even greater hunger, displacement, and protection risks.”

OCHA reports that violence, persistent conflicts, and environmental disasters continue to force families from their homes, stripping them of their ability to meet basic needs. The situation is particularly dire in the Central Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, where escalating insecurity spills into neighboring nations such as Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Mauritania. Meanwhile, ongoing conflict in Sudan has further exacerbated displacement across the region.

displacement and vulnerability on the rise

Over 12.7 million people are internally displaced within West and Central Africa, with an additional 3.7 million refugees and asylum seekers. The majority are women and children, often forced to flee multiple times. They face heightened risks, including gender-based violence and exploitation, with reports of rape and survival sex becoming increasingly common.

The crisis is compounded by climate change. In 2025, torrential rains and flooding affected more than 2 million people across 12 countries, destroying crops, damaging homes, and disrupting access to education and healthcare. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was particularly hard hit, with over 830,000 people affected.

funding gaps worsen humanitarian response

Despite generous donor support in 2025, the region faced a severe funding shortfall. Of the $7.8 billion requested, only $1.8 billion was received—just 24% of the total needed. These financial constraints have forced humanitarian organizations to scale back operations and make difficult choices about where to direct limited resources.

For example, in the Central African Republic, the number of people receiving cash assistance dropped by 75%, crippling their ability to meet urgent needs. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 85% of those targeted for shelter support received no assistance at all. Humanitarian agencies warn that without increased funding, millions more will be left without critical aid.

As of the end of 2025, humanitarian workers have provided some form of assistance to 19 million people in the region. However, agencies emphasize that millions more have been left behind due to insufficient funding, leaving them in increasingly precarious situations.