Nigeria: Delivering aid in the Lake Chad basin

Maiduguri, Nigeria, 2025 — In northeast Nigeria, over 13 years of conflict involving Boko Haram and armed groups have left millions of people in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. The Lake Chad basin region — spanning Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon — has become one of the world's most complex and underfunded humanitarian crises.

HopeAid is on the ground in Nigeria, delivering life-saving health care, nutrition support, and protection services to hundreds of thousands of people affected by the conflict. Our teams operate in some of the most hard-to-reach and insecure areas, where access to basic services is extremely limited.

A dire humanitarian situation

More than 2.4 million people are displaced in northeast Nigeria, living in camps or host communities with limited access to food, clean water, and health care. In the Lake Chad basin, over 5 million people are facing severe food insecurity, and at least 1 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition.

Health facilities have been destroyed or abandoned, leaving communities without access to basic medical care. Vaccination coverage has plummeted, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks such as cholera and measles. Women and girls face elevated risks of gender-based violence, particularly in displacement camps where protection services are scarce.

"Despite the vast needs, the humanitarian response in northeast Nigeria remains critically underfunded. Without sustained international support, we risk losing gains made in saving lives."

HopeAid's integrated response

HopeAid takes an integrated approach to the crisis, combining health, nutrition, and protection services to address the multiple needs of affected populations. Our programs in Nigeria include:

• Primary health care services through 25 mobile and fixed health clinics, reaching over 300,000 patients annually
• Therapeutic feeding programs for severely malnourished children, treating over 40,000 children each year
• Protection services including case management for survivors of gender-based violence, psychosocial support, and child protection
• Safe spaces for women and girls, providing training, counseling, and peer support networks
• Community engagement and outreach to raise awareness about health, nutrition, and protection issues

Reaching the most vulnerable

In areas where access is restricted by insecurity, HopeAid uses innovative approaches to reach people in need. Our community health workers, recruited from local populations, travel on foot or by motorcycle to remote villages, providing basic health care, malnutrition screening, and health education.

We also work closely with community leaders, including traditional and religious leaders, to build trust and ensure that our programs are culturally appropriate and responsive to local needs. This community-led approach has been critical to reaching some of the most isolated and vulnerable populations.

The funding gap

The humanitarian response in northeast Nigeria faces a significant funding shortfall. In 2025, the UN humanitarian response plan for Nigeria was funded at less than 40%, leaving millions without adequate assistance. This funding gap directly impacts HopeAid's ability to maintain and expand our programs.

Without adequate funding, we may be forced to reduce services, close some facilities, and cut back on the populations we serve — at a time when needs continue to grow.

How you can help

The people of northeast Nigeria have endured years of conflict and hardship. They need continued international solidarity and support. Your donation can help HopeAid maintain and expand our life-saving programs, reaching more families with the health care, nutrition, and protection they so desperately need.

Please give generously and help us bring hope to communities in the Lake Chad basin.

Tags: Emergency Nigeria Lake Chad HopeAid Field Stories