Northern Nigeria’s conflict with Boko Haram spilled over to the Lake Chad Basin region, where Nigerian refugees are hosted since 2014, causing large scale forced displacement and an unprecedented humanitarian emergency in Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

With ongoing crises in the Central African Republic (CAR), Mali, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as well as increased insecurity in Burkina Faso, approximately 14 million people are internally displaced across the region. In this challenging context, UNHCR will assume its leadership role across the three clusters, provide direct assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs), ensure that protection remains at the center of the multi-stakeholder humanitarian response, and work towards solutions in coordination with all partners, including key development actors. “The West and Central Africa region faces multiple humanitarian and development challenges. However, this has not prevented its governments and people from showing solidarity with over 21 million asylum seekers, refugees, and internally displaced persons. To ensure sustainability, this solidarity needs to be supported by adequate funding,” said Mr. Abdouraouf Gnon Konde, Regional Bureau Director.

The dire crisis in the Central African Republic continues to trigger massive forced displacement, increasing pressure on resources and living conditions in host communities and countries. Intense militia activity and inter-community violence hampers humanitarian access and exposes civilians to serious protection risks. According to OCHA, CAR remains the country with the highest humanitarian needs per capita, with 50 per cent of the population having to rely on humanitarian assistance to survive, while 25 per cent is displaced either internally or in a neighbouring country.