UNHCR Reports 3.5 Million Displaced in Lake Chad Basin

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that violence has displaced 3.5 million people across the Lake Chad Basin, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis affecting Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. UNHCR Deputy Director for West and Central Africa, Andrew Wyllie, stated that the region is approaching a tipping point, with humanitarian needs increasing despite years of stabilization efforts.

As of April 2026, security incidents rose by 80% from January 2024, with nearly 1,800 incidents and 5,700 fatalities recorded, including attacks on civilians. Borno State in northeastern Nigeria is identified as the epicenter of the crisis, where repeated attacks by non-state armed groups have displaced families and restricted humanitarian access.

The UNHCR also noted that 77,500 people were displaced across the four countries in January 2026, with 16,000 refugees fleeing attacks in northeastern Nigeria. The agency warned that humanitarian operations struggle to keep pace with growing needs, emphasizing the urgent requirement for support to prevent further entrenchment of the crisis.