Safe Water for Displaced Kids in Northern, Nigeria

The humanitarian crisis in Ortese Community reflects the broader challenges confronting conflict-affected populations across Benue State. Years of violent conflict have devastated essential infrastructure and severely reduced access to safe drinking water, exposing thousands of vulnerable children and families to preventable disease, displacement, and extreme hardship.

Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest burden of people lacking access to safely managed drinking water services. According to UNICEF and the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), millions of Nigerians continue to rely on unimproved or contaminated water sources, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas where infrastructure has been destroyed or neglected. Water insecurity remains one of the leading contributors to diarrhea disease, malnutrition, and child mortality.

In Benue State, humanitarian conditions have deteriorated significantly as conflict continues to displace communities. International humanitarian agencies estimate that more than 500,000 internally displaced persons are living across the state following repeated attacks and insecurity, placing enormous pressure on already overstretched public services and basic infrastructure.

The situation in Guma LGA remains particularly critical. Conflict continues to trigger repeated displacement into communities such as Ortese, where many households have returned only to find damaged water systems and limited access to essential services. Humanitarian assessments consistently identify WASH as one of the highest-priority unmet needs for newly displaced and returning populations.

Your support will help these displaced kids have access to safe and clean drinking water.