In Niger, the food crisis is inextricably linked to the large-scale population displacement caused by insecurity. In the Tillabéry, Diffa and Tahoua regions, recurrent violence has forced thousands of households to abandon cultivated land and livestock, depriving displaced people and host communities of vital resources. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly one million people were displaced as of September 2025, putting further pressure on already overburdened local markets and social services.
The loss of agricultural assets, increased competition in the labour market, and rising food prices are all part of a vicious cycle in which forced mobility and food insecurity fuel each other. In this context, nutritional indicators are deteriorating rapidly while humanitarian assistance is struggling to meet growing needs. Data analysis reveals a multidimensional crisis that extends far beyond security concerns and directly affects the daily survival of households.
Forced displacement and food insecurity
The food crisis in Niger is inextricably linked to the large-scale displacement of populations. Repeated violence in Tillabéry, Diffa and the far northwest of Tahoua has forced people to flee their homes, leaving displaced families and host communities without essential resources. The connection between forced migration and food insecurity is evident through the loss of assets, heightened competition in the labour market and mounting pressure on local services.
In September 2025, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimated that 938,429 people in Niger were experiencing forced displacement, including around 460,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), as well as 431,464 refugees and asylum seekers. The majority of this displacement was concentrated in the Tillabéry region, which hosted 48% of the IDPs. This was followed by the Diffa region (32%) and the Tahoua region (12%). Tillabéry is also the epicentre of violence, accounting for almost 60% of recorded security incidents. These figures reflect a dual rupture: displaced households lose access to their livelihoods, while host areas see their resilience capacities increasingly weakened.
Households that are forced to flee often abandon their crops, irrigated plots and livestock. In Tillabéry, 93 farming villages have been abandoned, representing 11% of the region’s cultivated land. Losing these productive assets can lead to distress sales, forcing families to prioritise short-term survival over long-term investment. When livestock is sold at low prices or stolen, households lose their main source of income and their primary form of savings. Consequently, seasonal earnings among displaced people no longer suffice to cover basic food needs, particularly given the rise in local prices due to disruptions in commercial supply chains.
Economic and social impact of displacement
The influx of displaced people affects the demand for and supply of labour and food. The arrival of additional labourers puts downward pressure on daily wages, while host households, who are already vulnerable, see their opportunities shrink. According to FEWS NET, seasonal work is becoming less available in host areas, even as competition for employment intensifies. This reduces purchasing power at a time when some households have lost their food stocks or experienced a decline in local production due to floods or attacks.
The combination of these factors is causing a rapid deterioration in nutritional conditions. The number of severely malnourished children admitted to treatment centres increased by 72% in the first eight months of 2025, rising from 322,514 in the same period of 2024 to 555,245. While the regions of Maradi and Zinder account for more than half of these admissions, areas experiencing intense displacement are showing alarming signs of growing pressure on food security.
Humanitarian response and outlook
Although humanitarian assistance mitigates some of the impacts, it remains insufficient. The Humanitarian Resource Plan aimed to support 2.1 million people, but only 347,525 were reached, leaving a coverage gap of around 70%. Security constraints, including the need for escort operations, limit access to displaced populations and increase costs. Without increased resources and improved access, areas hosting large numbers of displaced people risk remaining in the crisis phase or experiencing a deterioration in conditions.
The 2025 harvest provides seasonal relief in the form of increased stocks and lower prices between October and January. From February onwards, however, FEWS NET anticipates the depletion of reserves and a shift towards stressed (phase 2) conditions in areas unaffected by conflict. Conflict-affected zones will remain in crisis (phase 3). To prevent displacement from fuelling a broader food crisis, it is crucial to secure humanitarian access and increase targeted funding to support the livelihoods of displaced and host households alike.
The food crisis in Niger is an example of how forced displacement and insecurity reinforce each other, gradually eroding livelihoods. Alarming figures on child malnutrition and the inadequate humanitarian response reflect a situation in which the resilience of both host communities and displaced populations is being undermined. While the 2025 harvest may offer some respite, projections indicate a widespread resurgence of food insecurity as early as February, with conflict-affected regions continuing to experience crisis conditions. To address this trend, safe humanitarian access must be ensured, funding must be increased, and targeted support must be provided to the most vulnerable households. Beyond emergency measures, safeguarding livelihoods and bolstering social cohesion is crucial to averting displacement and the perpetuation of a cycle of poverty and hunger. Niger is therefore at a critical turning point, with the future of millions of people depending on swift action.
