West and Central Africa: Latest events at a glance (11–17 March 2025)

West and Central Africa
Displacement crisis in West and Central Africa expected to worsen

The Global Displacement Forecast Report 2025 projects a rise in displacement across West and Central Africa, with Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and the Central African Republic among the most affected. In Burkina Faso alone, the number of displaced people is expected to increase by over 200,000 by the end of 2026. Conflict, attacks on civilians, and climate change continue to drive forced displacement in the region. Humanitarian access remains severely constrained, particularly in Burkina Faso, where extremist violence has worsened. Despite escalating needs, funding shortfalls are affecting the response, threatening millions of lives.

Nigeria
Adamawa and Yobe face multiple disease outbreaks

Health partners in Adamawa and Yobe States, north-east Nigeria, reported outbreaks of cholera, measles, cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM), diphtheria, pertussis, and vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2), posing severe public health challenges. Adamawa reported 41 cholera cases with three deaths, 54 measles cases with one death, and 55 CSM cases resulting in 13 deaths. In Yobe, 445 suspected measles cases, 161 diphtheria cases causing eight deaths, six VDPV2 cases, and 88 CSM cases with eight deaths have been recorded. Response efforts are ongoing but constrained by funding cuts, inadequate logistics, low vaccination coverage, and limited laboratory capacity.

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Hospital in Fataki closes due to violence

As of 14 March, local health authorities decided to close Fataki General Hospital due to the ongoing deterioration of the security situation in Fataki health zone, Djugu Territory, northeast of the country. All medical staff and patients have been relocated to safer areas. However, health centres in these locations are overwhelmed, forcing many pregnant women to give birth at home without medical assistance. The situation is severely hindering access to healthcare for displaced populations in Lodha and Djaiba sites, as well as for the host community in Fataki, estimated to exceed 100,000 people.

15,000 returnees in Rutshuru need immediate assistance

On 14 March, partners conducted a monitoring visit to several villages in Rwanguba health zone, Rutshuru Territory, reporting an estimated 15,000 returnees to the area from internal displacement persons’ sites in Goma and Uganda between 29 January and 10 March. The families face critical needs in healthcare, mental health support, essential household items, and food security. No humanitarian organizations are currently operational in the area, despite relatively good security and physical access. Most of the returnees had been displaced for over two years, since November 2022.