United Nations and humanitarian partners launch $7.6 billion appeal for 2025 to support 35 million people affected by crises across West and Central Africa

• West and Central Africa faces some of the world’s most complex and prolonged humanitarian crises. In 2025, humanitarian organisations aim to deliver lifesaving assistance to 35 million people in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.
• With over 57 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, the humanitarian community focuses on prioritising the most vulnerable. Decisive and timely humanitarian action combined with people-centred actions and close work with local partners can save lives.
• By the end of 2024, aid workers will have provided lifesaving assistance and protection services to around 21 million people in the region. However, insufficient funding has prevented them from reaching millions of other vulnerable people.

(Dakar, 4 December 2024) – The United Nations and humanitarian partners appeal for US$7.6 billion to deliver lifesaving assistance and protection services to 35 million people across West and Central Africa in 2025.

Humanitarian needs in West and Central Africa are driven by conflict, violence, and the climate crisis, as shown by the scale of floods across the region this year. Protection remains the most pressing need for many vulnerable people, as violence and conflict put their lives and livelihoods at risk. In conflict-affected areas, women and girls face high risks of sexual and gender-based violence. Vulnerable communities struggle to cope with further shocks, facing severe food insecurity and acute malnutrition, water scarcity and limited access to health and education services. In 2025, 57 million vulnerable women, children and men across the region are expected to need life-saving humanitarian assistance, most of them relying on aid for their survival.

The scale of the crises goes beyond national borders, particularly in the two epicentres of the Sahel - the Central Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin. Chad continues to be significantly affected by continued arrival of people fleeing Sudan in desperate need of refuge and support, while the spillover of the crisis in the Central Sahel impacts neighbouring countries, such as Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mauritania and Togo.

“Millions of people are facing prolonged humanitarian crises that are growing in complexity and scale and are increasingly stretching resources to respond. Unless we take action now, we should be prepared for more displacement, food insecurity and disease outbreaks”, warned Charles Bernimolin, Head of the Regional UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Despite the long-standing generosity of donors, funding shortfalls persist. By November 2024, 49 per cent of the $7.6 billion required for this year had been received. “The scale of the crisis in West and Central Africa demands greater international solidarity and support," said Charles Bernimolin. “We must act decisively to prioritise the most vulnerable and deliver aid where it is needed most”.

Notes to Editors

The Global Humanitarian Overview is a comprehensive assessment of global humanitarian needs, and it provides a snapshot of current and future trends in humanitarian action.
In West and Central Africa, the number of people targeted with humanitarian assistance and protection services in each country and associated financial requirements for 2025 are as follows:
•Democratic Republic of the Congo: 11 million people targeted, $2.5 billion required
•Chad: 6.5 million people targeted, $1.5 billion required
•Nigeria: 3.6 million people targeted, $900 million required
•Burkina Faso: 3.7 million people targeted, $792.6 million required
•Mali: 4.6 million people targeted, $756.8 million required
•Niger: 1.7 million people targeted, $386.5 million required
•Cameroon: 2.1 million people targeted, $355.3 million required
•Central African Republic: 1.8 million people targeted, $326.1 million required

Media resources

• Global Humanitarian Overview 2025 available here.
• Photos for download
• Video file of the press conference by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher available here

Media contacts in Dakar for OCHA West and Central Africa:

Jean-François Ruel, ruel@un.org
Marie Bibiane Mouangue, bibiane.mouangue@un.org, +221 787917928