Key messages
Humanitarian needs in Niger continue to be immense as a result of lasting food insecurity, high child malnutrition and the displacement of people who fled conflict in neighbouring Mali and Nigeria.
The situation has further deteriorated after February 2015, with the conflict in Nigeria spilling over and increasing the number of displaced and refugee populations in the Diffa region.
The European Commission is among the largest donors providing life-saving and emergency aid. In 2014, it covered one-fourth of all food assistance needs and supported the treatment of 80% of Severe Acute Malnourished under five children. In 2015, it has allocated €47 million to support the humanitarian situation.
The successive food crises, extreme poverty, displacement and rapid population growth continue to erode people’s resilience. Even in good agricultural years, between 3 and 4 million Nigeriens are believed to experience food shortages
Niger has made significant progress in reducing child deaths and has embraced a policy of free health care for children under five.
However, the country needs support to address the causes of food insecurity and malnutrition.The EU is a founding member of AGIR, a global alliance to strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable families in West Africa. AGIR has a goal of ‘Zero Hunger’ by 2032.