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The Lake Chad Basin Crisis
Extreme poverty, disease and violence. Millions of families urgently need support.
What is the forgotten crisis?
Also called the Boko Haram Crisis, the Lake Chad Basin Crisis affects some of the world’s poorest people.
Reaching across Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad, it is a huge and complex humanitarian crisis with many causes. Extreme poverty, underdevelopment and climate change are just some of the factors at play, alongside growing insecurity caused by Boko Haram attacks.
Why is it forgotten?
Could you point to Lake Chad Basin on a map? Have you heard much about the crisis in the news recently?
If the answer is ‘no’, you’re not alone. It is called the forgotten crisis because it receives little media attention from western countries.
Boko Haram gained notoriety when it kidnapped 276 Chibok girls from a school in Nigeria in April 2014. The world responded with the Bring Back Our Girls campaign. But the widespread issues in the Lake Chad Basin continue with women and children continuing to be targeted.
Where is Lake Chad?
Lake Chad is a freshwater lake that is located where Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger meet.
It was once one of the largest lakes in Africa, providing water for over 30 million people.
Historically, local people relied on the lake for their livelihoods, living on the plentiful fish and fertile land.
But since the 1960’s, the lake has shrunk by about 90%, turning the area to desert. This is reportedly due to a mix of climate change, increasing population, overuse and irrigation.
In one of the hottest places on earth, it is now almost impossible to make a living from the land or the lake.
Take a closer look
Cameroon
We’re working in Cameroon, where thousands of families have fled conflict and are now living in Minawo Camp.
Nigeria
The conflict in Nigeria is now entering its ninth year. Find out how we’re helping families to recover.
Niger
Niger is facing five major crises right now. Read on to learn how we’re helping.
Chad
Half a million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Chad. See how we’ve helped.
Who is Boko Haram?
Boko Haram is an extremist militant group that opposes western education and influence in Nigeria.
The terrorist organisation has raged violent conflict in Nigeria since 2009, which has spread to neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger.
As Boko Haram has occupied territory, farmers and fishermen can no longer freely access what is left of the lake and lands. Today, Boko Haram continue mass atrocities on villages – looting, killing, abducting women and children and conscripting men and boys into their army.
The world’s media took a stand in 2014 when 276 Chibok girls were kidnapped in Nigeria. But the atrocities have continued since then, seemingly going unnoticed.
One of the worst examples of Boko Haram terror and abuse is the use of children, mostly girls, as ‘human bombs’. Young girls are used as suicide bombers and have explosives strapped to their bodies.
The words ‘Boko Haram’ roughly translate to ‘western education is a sin’ and thousands of schools have been attacked, looted and burned. Over 1,000 children have been abducted and thousands of teachers killed.
But Boko Haram and the surrounding military offensive is just one of the driving factors in the Lake Chad Basin forcing people to flee their homes. Extreme poverty, underdevelopment and climate change are also at play in this forgotten crisis.
Who is affected?
Over 17 million people live in the affected area – that’s around the same number of people living in the Netherlands.
Around 10.7 million people are in need of help of some form, with 2.4 million people estimated to be displaced – meaning they have been forced to flee their homes with nothing.
There is little shelter for families who have fled.
Ongoing military and terror offensives mean many people can move suddenly into camps and informal settlements, making conditions worse.
People are now living in overcrowded camps, in which there are food and water shortages, unhygienic living conditions, limited privacy, cholera epidemics and overall insecurity.
1963
Lake Chad covers around 25,000 km2
2013
Lake Chad covers less than 2,500 km2
April 2014
Boko Haram captures 276 Chibok school girls
Dec 2017
At least 135 children forcibly used as ‘suicide bombers’
How are we helping?
Families in the Lake Chad Basin desperately need help.
We’re supporting families fleeing Boko Haram violence with shelter – essential items including tents, tarpaulins, toolkits, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, water carriers, solar lights, and blankets.
We’ve helped over 11,000 families so far, mostly in Cameroon, but also in Chad, Nigeria and Niger. There are so many more that need our help and we are determined to help as many as we can.
11,000 families helped so far
There are so many more that need our help. We are determined to help as many as we can.
3,406 kitchen sets delivered
We’ve already distributed kitchen sets to 3,406 families in Chad, but many more are still waiting.
2,225 families in Niger
To date we’ve helped 2,225 families in Niger but many more are in immediate need of shelter
In my shelter I can recover in my own privacy, and I have the feeling of security for all of us. My children also recovered some peace and freedom. They can play and sleep well whenever they want.
This tent and the other items we have been given have made my life so much better. I can sleep at night and stay with my family peacefully.
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