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Niger

UNICEF Niger Humanitarian Situation Report No. 3: January to December 2024

Attachments

HIGHLIGHTS

  • In 2024, 493,758 under-five children (229,745 girls) suffering from severe wasting were admitted for treatment in 2024, including 87,227 cases with medical complications. The total of severe wasted children treated this year is 32,000 higher than in 2023.
  • The devastating floods of 2024 impacted more than 1.5 million people, causing severe damage to infrastructure and worsening cholera outbreaks.
  • Insecurity continues to heighten vulnerabilities, with the RRM actors recording 91 displacement alerts during the year, affecting over 19,000 households (approximately 120,000 people). In response, RRM actors conducted 136 needs assessments—51% in Tillabéri, 34% in Diffa, and 15% in Maradi and Tahoua.
  • As of 31 December 2024, the country has 507,438 internally displaced people and 421,809 refugees and asylum seekers.
  • In 2024, UNICEF interventions provided assistance to 774,000 children (922,665 people), thanks to the generous support of donors who contributed 23 million USD to deliver relief and save children's lives.

SITUATION OVERVIEW AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS

Niger faces a range of shocks, including climate-related disasters (such as floods), health epidemics, security challenges, and a migration crisis. Additionally, the country's capacity to bounce back from these adversities is hindered by a high poverty rate of 44%. The aftermath of a military coup in July 2023, which led to the imposition of political and economic sanctions, has further exacerbated the situation. It is estimated that 4.3 million people, including 2.4 million children, were in need of humanitarian assistance in Niger in 2024. The pervasive insecurity complicates the delivery of aid to those affected. The regions of Diffa, Maradi, Tillabéri, and Tahoua, continue to suffer from the repercussions of armed conflict. Insecurity caused by non-state armed group actions has resulted in the displacement of over 900,000 persons (UNHCR).

The devastating floods of 2024 impacted more than 1.5 million people, causing severe damage to infrastructure and worsening cholera outbreaks. Nearly 1.7 million individuals, including over 950,000 children, still face inadequate WASH services, threatening their health and survival.

Although the 2024 agro-pastoral season was adequate, the situation remains worrisome particularly due to the high floods, the persistent food price crisis, forced displacement and civil insecurity. As part of the malnutrition management program, UNICEF, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, launched from September 28 to October 1 a large screening for acute malnutrition coupled with the National Micronutrient Day, which reached 1.7 million children aged 6 to 59 months in 34 health districts in the country. The results revealed significant disparities in malnutrition rates, ranging from 2.3% in Balleyara to 18.5% in Belbedji.

Based on the latest Food Insecurity IPC Analysis (November 2024), 1.5 million people are in phase 3 or higher (crisis and emergency level) during the current period (October-December 2024), and 2.2 million people are projected to be in phase 3 or higher in 2025. Preliminary results from the Inter-Phase Classification of Acute Malnutrition, conducted in November, show that 39 departments are in nutrition crisis between December and April 2024. There will be 42 departments in acute malnutrition crisis and 12 in emergency between May and July 2024. Earlier and longer hunger gaps may push vulnerable households to rely on coping mechanisms for which negative impact may be felt in 2025.

Regarding the continuity of education, 779 primary and secondary schools remain closed in Diffa, Maradi, Tahoua and Tillabéri regions (compared to 987 schools in 2023 during the same period), affecting over 66,000 students and 1,700 teachers. Despite the political will and mobilization of education partners through the Education Cluster, the process of reopening closed schools remains long and complex.