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Country analysis

Niger


Insecurity stemming from crises in neighbouring countries is affecting the population in Niger. In Diffa region, where a state of emergency has been in place since 2015, Boko Haram continues to carry out sporadic attacks on civilians. Since September 2018, the Burkina Faso border area has seen increasing attacks by non-state armed groups against the population and authorities, leading to the declaration of states of emergency in several departments.

In Tillabéri and Tahoua regions, in the border area between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, attacks by non-state armed groups affiliated with either al-Qaeda or the Islamic State continue to force thousands of people to flee. As at January 2024, there were around 335,300 IDPs in Niger, and the country hosted more than 306,000 refugees and asylum seekers mainly from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria.

Insecurity considerably limits children’s access to education. As at September 2023, 987 schools were closed because of insecurity, mostly in Diffa, Maradi, Tahoua, and Tillabéri regions.

A July 2023 military coup resulted in sanctions throughout the country, including border closures, which pose humanitarian access issues and disrupt trade flows. Insecurity also disrupts access to livelihoods and markets.

(UNHCR 08/02/2024, IOM accessed 10/02/2024, UNICEF 11/12/2023, Helvetas 31/08/2023)

Insecurity stemming from crises in neighbouring countries is affecting the population in Niger. In Diffa region, where a state of emergency has been in place since 2015, Boko Haram continues to carry out sporadic attacks on civilians. Since September 2018, the Burkina Faso border area has seen increasing attacks by non-state armed groups against the population and authorities, leading to the declaration of states of emergency in several departments.

In Tillabéri and Tahoua regions, in the border area between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, attacks by non-state armed groups affiliated with either al-Qaeda or the Islamic State continue to force thousands of people to flee. As at January 2024, there were around 335,300 IDPs in Niger, and the country hosted more than 306,000 refugees and asylum seekers mainly from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria.

Insecurity considerably limits children’s access to education. As at September 2023, 987 schools were closed because of insecurity, mostly in Diffa, Maradi, Tahoua, and Tillabéri regions.

A July 2023 military coup resulted in sanctions throughout the country, including border closures, which pose humanitarian access issues and disrupt trade flows. Insecurity also disrupts access to livelihoods and markets.

(UNHCR 08/02/2024, IOM accessed 10/02/2024, UNICEF 11/12/2023, Helvetas 31/08/2023)

Latest updates on country situation

09 January 2024

From 5–6 January 2024, drone strikes by the Nigerien army killed an unknown number of civilians in Tiawa village, Tillabéri region. The incident adds to a series of violence against civilians, most of which are attributed to non-state armed groups in the region. In November 2023, the incidence of civilian kidnappings and killings increased compared to previous months. Insecurity has weakened social cohesion in the region and resulted in reprisals and serious violations, taking the number of departments with a very high severity level of protection needs from 5 to 10 between 2022–2023. From January–September 2023, 18% of the reported cases of gender-based violence took place in Tillabéri region, with actual figures probably higher given the underreporting of cases. Women and children are among the groups most affected by protection incidents. (UNHCR 19/12/2023, RFI 07/01/2024, Protection Cluster 30/11/2023)

29 August 2023

As at 21 August, over 88,000 people have been affected by seasonal floods across Niger. At least 32 people have died, and 35 were injured. The floods have also caused the collapse of more than 7,800 houses and the death of over 3,000 livestock. Maradi is the most impacted region, with nearly 29,000 people affected so far. Most urgent needs include shelter and NFIs. The number of affected people is likely to increase significantly since the heaviest rainfall is expected in late August or early September. An estimated 300,000 people are expected to be affected between July–September, with Dosso, Maradi, and Zinder at higher risk of flooding. Crop losses in damaged fields, property destruction, and loss of animals will contribute to worsening food insecurity. Stagnant and polluted waters also bring increased risks of waterborne diseases such as cholera. (OCHA 24/08/2023, ANP 24/08/2023, IFRC 21/08/2023)

23 March 2023

Since the beginning of 2023, more than 20,000 people have been displaced in several departments of Tillabéri and Tahoua regions, with people fleeing incursions, extortion, kidnappings for ransom, killings, and cattle thefts by non-state armed groups. The most urgent needs for the newly displaced include food, WASH, shelter and NFIs, healthcare, protection, and education.


Insecurity continues to limit access to schooling in both regions, which are the most affected by school closures in Niger. As at December 2022, 780 schools were closed in Tillabéri and 32 in Tahoua, respectively affecting more than 68,000 and 2,900 students. School closures particularly affect children who do not have access to alternative learning modalities – that is, those living in remote areas or areas not accessible by humanitarian organisations because of insecurity. Out-of-school children are exposed to protection risks, such as child labour, forced marriages, and, in conflict zones, recruitment into non-state armed groups. (OCHA 23/03/2023), (ANP 17/02/2023), (Education Cluster et al. accessed 28/03/2023), (OCHA 06/01/2023)

current crises
in Niger


These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

NER001 - Country level

Last updated 29/02/2024


Drivers

Conflict
Displacement

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.7 High

Access constraints

3.0

NER002 - Lake Chad basin crisis

Last updated 29/02/2024


Drivers

Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.2 High

Access constraints

3.0

NER003 - Cross-border violence

Last updated 29/02/2024


Drivers

Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.5 High

Access constraints

3.0

NER004 - Nigerian Refugees

Last updated 29/02/2024


Drivers

Displacement

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.6 Medium

Access constraints

2.0

REG001 - Lake Chad basin regional crisis

Last updated 29/02/2024


Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

4.2 Very High

Access constraints

3.0

Analysis products
on Niger

Niger: flooding

29 August 2023

Niger: flooding

DOCUMENT / PDF / 246 KB

The floods are likely to extend the lean season, increasing the risk of food insecurity. In 2023, people will likely experience Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse food insecurity levels, as the coup, food price inflation, import/export challenges, and lost livelihoods and remittances further constrain food availability in the coming months

Food security & livelihoodsNatural hazards
Lake Chad Basin: Impact of extreme weather & climate events on food security

17 August 2022

Lake Chad Basin: Impact of extreme weather & climate events on food security

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB

This report aims to explore the impact of extreme weather and climate events on the humanitarian situation in the Lake Chad Basin. Since the 1970s in West and Central Africa, river floods and agricultural and ecological droughts have been increasing while average rainfall has been decreasing. These phenomena have an impact on availability of resources and land, and consequently on the economic and living conditions of the regions’ populations.

Food security & livelihoodsNatural hazards
Nigeria and Niger: Cholera outbreak

18 November 2021

Nigeria and Niger: Cholera outbreak

DOCUMENT / PDF / 2 MB

This report highlights the impact of the outbreak considering the current conflict environment and other aggravating factors.

Health
Scenarios: Humanitarian access in Central Sahel

31 March 2021

Scenarios: Humanitarian access in Central Sahel

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB

Possible developments in humanitarian access in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger during 2021.

Humanitarian access
Central Sahel: Humanitarian access and civil-military coordination

28 January 2021

Central Sahel: Humanitarian access and civil-military coordination

DOCUMENT / PDF / 924 KB

Irregular and intercommunal conflict and sudden-onset disasters have increased humanitarian needs across the triborder region between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Humanitarian operating spaces have also been restricted.

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