Nigeria, UN Launch $516m Appeal to Save 2.5 Million Lives in North-East

The Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with the United Nations and humanitarian agencies, has launched an urgent $516 million appeal to provide lifesaving assistance to 2.5 million vulnerable people in the North-East in 2026.

The appeal was unveiled in Abuja under the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, targeting residents of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States, where prolonged conflict, displacement, food insecurity, and climate shocks continue to worsen living conditions.

According to humanitarian officials, women and children account for nearly 80 per cent of those requiring urgent assistance, making the crisis one of the most severe in the country.

Speaking at the launch, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, warned that rising humanitarian needs are colliding with shrinking global funding, leading to deadly consequences for vulnerable populations.

Projections for 2026 indicate that nearly three million Nigerian children under five may suffer from severe acute malnutrition, while about 35 million Nigerians are expected to face acute food insecurity during the lean season, highlighting the scale and urgency of the unfolding humanitarian emergency.