Nearly 64,000 people have crossed from northern Nigeria into neighboring Niger since the beginning of 2026, fleeing attacks by armed groups and criminal gangs. The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, reports that the rising arrivals are placing heavy pressure on communities and services in Niger, which already hosts more than 500,000 refugees and asylum-seekers.
Most of the newly displaced people have settled in the border regions of Diffa and Tahoua. More than 23,000 have reached Diffa alone, with children making up over two-thirds of that group. Several hundred Nigerians have also travelled to Benin seeking safety. Many families arrive with very few belongings and face severe shortages of food, clean water, shelter, and healthcare.
This crisis stems from years of insecurity in northern Nigeria, where Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and armed criminal gangs have launched attacks and driven people from their homes. The fallout extends far beyond Nigeria’s borders, straining neighboring countries that are already managing local displacement and scarce resources.
UNHCR warns that only a small fraction of this year’s new arrivals have been officially registered, which limits their access to aid and basic services. In many communities, children lack adequate schooling, and families in makeshift shelters struggle to find safe water. Humanitarian workers have also flagged rising rates of malnutrition and respiratory illnesses.
The agency is seeking $11.4 million to support emergency assistance and longer-term solutions across Niger, Nigeria, and Benin. The funding is intended to help provide food, water, shelter, healthcare, registration, and protection.
The situation highlights the regional nature of the security crisis in the Sahel and Lake Chad areas. Addressing the immediate needs of displaced families will require continued support for host communities, alongside efforts to improve security and reduce the violence driving people from their homes. Local authorities are also struggling to meet the growing needs of new arrivals.
