www.solidarites.org

Benin

Northern Benin: growing humanitarian needs
27,264 internally displaced persons
276,026 people are at risk of acute food and livelihood insecurity in northern Benin
51% of households in North Benin get their water from unimproved sources
16,202 people helped

Context

In northern Benin, the structurally vulnerable departments of Atacora and Alibori have been facing an intensification of attacks by non-state armed groups in the Sahel region since 2021.

The insecurity has caused a massive influx of internally displaced persons, in addition to the refugees, mainly from Burkina Faso. As of September 30, 2025, Benin was hosting 27,294 internally displaced persons and 27,854 refugees. According to a joint assessment conducted in September 2025 by SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL, 56% of displaced people in Benin wish to settle in their host communities due to insecurity in their place of origin. 

From a humanitarian perspective, the situation is alarming. We estimate that global acute malnutrition amounts to 10% in some municipalities, with more than 276,000 people projected to be food insecure (IPC 3+) in 2026. In response, more than 50% of households adopt negative strategies such as reducing the number of meals or depriving adults for the benefit of children. Access to water is also restricted: the functionality rates of water sources vary from 48 to 60% depending on the locality and the long distances to be covered for water supply constitute a risk, particularly for women and girls in charge of water collection. In addition, 31% of households mention the cost of water as a major obstacle. In terms of shelter, 61 to 65% of households live in damaged and often overcrowded housing, which compromises safety and privacy, particularly for women. 

In a context marked by high protection risks, security access constraints and persistent humanitarian underfunding, the needs are increasing. 

  • 14.8 million inhabitants
  • 173rd out of 193 on the Human Development Index

Our action

  • Mission
    opened in 2023
  • Team 9 international staff
    17 national staff
  • Budget 629,785 euros

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has been present since 2023 in the Atacora department, in northern Benin. s, the NGO has developed a multi-sectoral strategy to respond to the growing influx of displaced people and refugees, fleeing insecurity at the borders of Burkina Faso:
  

  • Immediate support to newly displaced populations by distributing 1,365 multi-sectoral kits (non-food items, hygiene, food) within 72 hours of becoming aware of the displacement, as well as cash transfers enabling households to meet their essential needs. These actions are coupled with the detection of protection cases and psychosocial support (PSP). 
  • The sustainable improvement of access to water and sanitation through the rehabilitation of four boreholes, the deployment of ORISA filters for households without secure access to water, as well as support for local water governance.  
  • Strengthening the resilience of affected populations, with support for income-generating activities, targeting women and the most vulnerable groups, in synergy with existing cash transfers. 
Partners

Institutional and private financial partners CDCS, DG ECHO 

Operational partners Handicap International, ERAD, Havre de Paix 

Our impact

Bring a rapid, multi-sectoral emergency response

  • Distribution of 1,365 emergency kits for 1,180 newly displaced households  
  • Referral of 34 protection cases to Handicap International 
  • Meeting basic needs and restoring essential services
  • Rehabilitation of four borehole water points  
  • Hygiene awareness sessions led by community relays 
  • Distribution of cash to 1,273 beneficiaries in several municipalities of Atacora  

Building individual, community and institutional resilience

  • Support to 176 beneficiaries for the revival of collective income-generating activities and support to 30 women with individual income-generating activities 
  • Training of water point management committees and distribution of toolkits to water point repairers 
  • Management of the alert and monitoring committees: 423 alerts verified and followed up that triggered the distribution of kits 
  • Support for humanitarian diagnosis through the deployment of HAACT 

Should you have any questions, please contact Xavier Lauth

Xavier Lauth

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