Nigeria and partners seek US$516 million to aid 2.5 million in the north-east

The Government of Nigeria and humanitarian partners have launched a US$516 million appeal to deliver lifesaving aid to 2.5 million people caught in crisis across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Women and children make up 80 percent of those most in need, as conflict, displacement, hunger, and economic hardship continue to deepen across the north-east.

The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan comes amid rising needs and shrinking international funding.

“Humanitarian needs are dramatically worsening at a time when we are facing the steepest decline in international funding,” said Mohamed Malick Fall, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria. “Every day that funding gaps persist is a day that yet another malnourished child is pushed closer to preventable death.”

Nearly 3 million children under five are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year, one-third of them in the BAY states. During the 2026 lean season, about 35 million Nigerians are expected to face acute food insecurity, including 5.8 million in the north-east alone. Funding from last year’s humanitarian plan reached just half of what was received in 2024, causing a sharp decline in aid coverage.

The government says this year’s plan also marks a transition toward nationally led and financed humanitarian action.

“We remain fully committed to providing leadership and coordination that align with our broader national reforms to reduce poverty and strengthen resilience,” said Dr. Bernard Doro, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

Governors from the BAY states also reaffirmed their readiness to work closely with humanitarian partners to meet urgent needs and support durable recovery.

Additional funding is needed to provide food, healthcare, nutrition, clean water, sanitation, and protection services for vulnerable families. The government and its partners emphasized that improving security and maintaining humanitarian access remain essential to reducing risks and supporting communities to rebuild their lives.