In Borno State, located in northeastern Nigeria, a combination of escalating violence by armed groups and a reduction in international humanitarian aid funding is worsening the already dire living conditions for a population that has endured years of hunger and displacement.
For years, northeastern Nigeria has been a region plagued by violence, hunger, internal displacement, and a lack of infrastructure for essential services. The internal conflict has displaced over 2.2 million people, severely limiting their access to food, healthcare, and basic services. The civilian death toll continues to rise, with improvised explosive devices posing a constant threat. In Borno State, in particular, the intensification of violence by armed groups in recent weeks is aggravating an already fragile humanitarian situation. The latest incident occurred during the first week of September, when a village was attacked and more than 50 people were killed.
Violence Escalates in Borno
Since the beginning of 2025, there has been an increase in violence perpetrated by armed groups against civilians. Various violations have been documented, including ambushes, targeted attacks, improvised explosive devices along roads, illegal checkpoints, car thefts, and kidnappings. According to data from Good Governance Africa, a non-profit organization, nearly 300 attacks were recorded, resulting in the deaths of approximately 500 civilians in the first six months of the year alone.
Both government forces and civilians have been heavily impacted. Numerous checkpoints have been set up along key routes, such as the Dikwa-Marte, Magumeri-Gubio, Monguno-Maiduguri, Bama-Banki, and Konduga-Bama roads, disrupting civilian travel and humanitarian access.
Several military outposts have been overrun, with government forces driven out by armed opposition groups. Some of these locations include Sabon gari and Wajiroko in Damboa, Wulgo in Ngala, and Yadi gari and Buni yadi in Gujba, among others. Recently, there has been an evolution in the operational tactics of these armed groups, with an observed increase in the use of drones for surveillance and during attacks. This indicates a significant shift in their capabilities, demonstrating their technological advancement.
Consequences for Civilians
The situation for internally displaced persons (IDPs) residing in camps where INTERSOS operates, such as the GSSSS camp in Bama and Dikwa, is deeply concerning. In the GSSSS camp in Bama alone, over 110,000 people live in overcrowded conditions. The humanitarian context is further aggravated by limited freedom of movement and precarious access to agricultural land, as security threats prevent civilians from working in areas outside the camps.
Meanwhile, the government has initiated a program to relocate IDPs to their areas of origin. However, insecurity and a lack of adequate security and basic services in these return communities have forced many IDPs to return to camps in major cities in search of protection and assistance.
The humanitarian crisis in Borno State is among those hit by cuts in humanitarian aid funding, which began in February 2025 following a decision by the US administration. This has forced many humanitarian actors to scale down operations, withdraw from hard-to-reach communities, or significantly reduce their programmatic interventions. This has created severe gaps in service provision, leaving IDPs with limited access to healthcare, nutritional support, clean water facilities, and protection programs.
Our Response
Living conditions continue to deteriorate, with increasing vulnerability and diminishing prospects for a rapid recovery and durable solutions. INTERSOS operations continue despite the difficulties, although the impact of funding cuts has led to a reduction in staff, limiting the scope of our aid programs.
The hunger crisis is a major threat, as the population is heavily dependent on humanitarian assistance to meet basic needs. The absence of sustainable livelihood opportunities increases vulnerability and undermines resilience in the areas where we operate. According to estimates from OCHA—the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs—an estimated 600,000 children are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition—a potentially fatal condition—during the lean season.
Despite this, we continue to provide vital assistance to civilians fleeing attacks by armed groups in towns such as Bama, Banki, Damasak, Rann, and Dikwa. Our humanitarian response includes the distribution of emergency food, healthcare and nutritional services, and the provision of essential and hygiene kits.