Background
The violent conflict in the Lake Chad Basin has continuously deteriorated. Boko Haram raids and suicide bombings targeting civilians are causing widespread trauma, preventing people from accessing essential services and destroying vital infrastructure. Around 17 million people live in the affected areas across the four Lake Chad countries. The number of displaced people has tripled over the last two years. Most of the displaced families are sheltered by communities that count among the world’s poorest and most vulnerable. Food insecurity and malnutrition have reached critical levels.
Recent developments
Humanitarian partners have appealed for US$1.5 billion to assist 8.2 million people in the conflict-hit Lake Chad Basin in 2017. Needs in the affected region have continued to increase over the past year, and the financial requirement to allow NGOs and UN agencies to adequately respond has tripled compared to the start of 2016. The crisis has displaced 2.4 million people, left 7 million in need of food assistance and more than 515,000 children severely acutely malnourished. Millions of people are unable to farm, trade or carry out their daily life-sustaining activities. Populations face heightened risks of violation, abuse and exploitation and the limited basic services have been badly disrupted. Food scarcity is projected to deepen during the next lean season. The bulk of the 2017 budget has been earmarked for food insecurity, with the majority of the people affected in the north-east of Nigeria. Nutrition, protection and health assistance are among the priority needs.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.