The United Nations refugee agency has raised concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in the Lake Chad Basin, revealing that more than 3.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes as violence continues to grip parts of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the prolonged insecurity has pushed the region closer to a humanitarian emergency, with an estimated 8.2 million people now in need of assistance.
Speaking during a briefing in Geneva, UNHCR Deputy Director for the West and Central Africa Bureau, Andrew Wyllie, said attacks by armed groups and other violent incidents have increased significantly in recent years, placing civilians at greater risk.
The agency reported that security incidents rose by about 80 percent between January 2024 and April 2026. Nearly 1,800 violent incidents and more than 5,700 deaths were recorded between September 2025 and May 2026, including attacks on villages, kidnappings, clashes involving armed groups and deadly explosions.
UNHCR identified Borno State in northeastern Nigeria as one of the hardest-hit areas, where recurring attacks, military operations and unsafe travel routes continue to displace communities and hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid. It also noted that insecurity has increasingly spread into parts of northwestern Nigeria and the Middle Belt.
Since the beginning of 2026, more than 77,500 people have reportedly been displaced across the four countries. The agency said over 16,000 Nigerians fleeing violence in the northeast have crossed into Niger’s Diffa region, where emergency support is being provided.
UNHCR warned that the crisis is no longer confined within national borders, as violence in one country is increasingly triggering displacement in neighbouring states. It pointed to continued attacks in Cameroon’s Far North and fresh displacement in Chad’s Lac Province, where about 60,000 people have been uprooted, leading authorities to declare a state of emergency in May.
The agency said civilians remain the most affected by the conflict, with recent assessments showing that many families no longer feel safe in their own communities. Women and girls face growing threats of violence, while child protection and support services are struggling to meet demand.
Children have also been heavily impacted, with around half of those living in the worst-affected areas out of school. In Chad’s Lac Province, the number is even higher, exceeding three-quarters of school-age children.
UNHCR further reported an increase in cases involving separated or unaccompanied children, particularly in Cameroon’s Far North, highlighting the broader social impact of the crisis.
Despite the challenges, Wyllie praised governments in the region for continuing to admit people fleeing violence and for working with humanitarian agencies to support displaced populations.
However, he warned that funding shortages could undermine ongoing relief efforts. UNHCR said it requires $29 million to sustain operations through the end of 2026, stressing that additional support is needed to maintain protection services, deliver humanitarian assistance and strengthen regional stabilisation efforts.
The agency cautioned that without urgent financial backing, displacement could continue to rise, leaving millions more vulnerable to the effects of the prolonged conflict.
