Nearly 64,000 People Flee Northern Nigeria to Niger in 2026, UNHCR Says
GENEVA — Nearly 64,000 people have crossed from northern Nigeria into Niger since the start of 2026 while fleeing violence, according to the United Nations refugee agency.
UNHCR said most arrivals have sought safety in the Nigerien regions of Diffa and Tahoua, which already face insecurity, climate shocks and pressure on essential services. In October alone, the agency recorded about 1,200 arrivals in Diffa and 3,400 in Tahoua.
The displacement has a particularly serious impact on children. UNHCR says more than two-thirds of the new arrivals recorded in Diffa are children, and only a small share of newly arrived people have completed formal registration. Registration is important for access to protection, documentation and humanitarian support.
Niger already hosts more than 500,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, including about 327,500 Nigerians, alongside people displaced within Niger. Several hundred Nigerians have also crossed into Benin, showing that the effects of northern Nigeria’s insecurity are spreading across more than one border.
The agency is seeking $11.4 million for an emergency response that includes shelter, protection, water, sanitation and health support. The figures are UNHCR estimates and may change as registration continues.
The latest movement underscores the regional cost of violence in northern Nigeria. Restoring security is only one part of the response; displaced families also need safe access to food, healthcare, education and voluntary return when conditions permit.
Sources: UNHCR briefing note; Reuters regional reporting.
Featured image: illustrative aerial photograph by Salah Darwish/Unsplash; it does not depict the reported refugees.
