Nigeria faces $159m humanitarian funding gap as needs worsen

The United Nations has warned that hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Nigerians could be left without life-saving assistance as the country’s humanitarian response faces a $159 million funding gap for the remainder of 2026.

The warning was issued in a statement on Wednesday by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, as the world marked World Humanitarian Day.

“Nigeria’s already hyper prioritised Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan still faces a $159 million funding gap for the remainder of the year, meaning that hundreds of thousands of people risk missing out on the lifesaving support they need,” he said.

Fall said millions of Nigerians are confronting worsening food insecurity, malnutrition and disease outbreaks, particularly during the current lean and rainy seasons, while humanitarian organisations are struggling with dwindling resources.

“Behind every statistic is a family struggling to survive, a child battling malnutrition, a mother seeking treatment for cholera, or a community trying to rebuild after years of crisis. On this World Humanitarian Day, let us #ActForHumanity and reaffirm our shared responsibility to protect those supporting the most vulnerable,” he added.

The Humanitarian Coordinator made the disclosure after leading members of the United Nations and Humanitarian Country Teams on a visit to nutrition and cholera treatment centres in Maiduguri, Borno State.

“I met humanitarian workers who continue to serve communities with extraordinary courage, dedication and compassion despite difficult and often dangerous conditions. We call for greater protection for these brave personnel so that they can do their critical work in safety,” he said.

According to Fall, the humanitarian response in the region reached almost 900,000 people in the first half of 2026, despite declining funding, as he said that the joint response has so far treated more than 55,000 cholera patients, while hygiene promotion activities have reached over one million people.

“Together, the government, health workers and humanitarian partners have treated more than 55,000 cholera patients, providing hygiene promotion services to over one million people and chlorinating in excess of 500 water points, giving communities access to safe drinking water. This collective work has helped drive the cholera case fatality rate down below emergency levels,” he said.

Fall, however, warned that humanitarian workers and critical infrastructure must be protected as the crisis continues.

“Humanitarian workers are not targets. hospitals, treatment centres, relief supplies, assistance convoys and civilian infrastructure must be protected,” he said, stressing that international humanitarian law must be respected by all parties at all times.

He added that when aid workers cannot safely reach communities, vulnerable women, men and children bear the consequences.

He disclosed that $135.5 million has already been distributed in 2026 through the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund and the Central Emergency Response Fund to respond to humanitarian emergencies, noting that additional funding was urgently required, with Nigeria’s already prioritised Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan still facing a $159 million shortfall.

The funding crisis comes amid a broader decline in international humanitarian financing, with the UN warning that current funding levels are only a fraction of what was available a few years ago.

He urged international donors, the Nigerian government, civil society organisations and the private sector to increase support to humanitarian operations, particularly as the country prepares to move towards a more locally led humanitarian response in 2027.

The ICIR reports that the World Humanitarian Day is observed annually on August 19 to honour humanitarian workers and raise awareness of the risks they face while providing life-saving assistance to people affected by conflict, disasters, disease outbreaks and other crises, highlighting the rights, dignity and survival of people caught up in humanitarian emergencies.

By Nanji Nandang, ICIR