14/05/2026
OVER 1,400 HOUSEHOLDS DISPLACED IN KWANDE: WOMEN, GIRLS, AND CHILDREN FACE SEVERE FOOD INSECURITY, PROTECTION RISKS, AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
Following the devastating attacks of March 6th in Kwande LGA, Benue State, Spring of Hope Nigeria conducted a Rapid Needs Assessment to understand the realities faced by affected communities and guide an effective humanitarian response.
The assessment covered the most affected council wards: Mbachon, Mbaigbeh, Ichembe, Nzaav, and Mbaav, where large-scale displacement has left families in urgent need of support.
Using a digital data collection tool (Kobo Toolbox), our team gathered real-time data from 1,462 households across these communities through a rapid cross-sectional approach, ensuring that community voices directly inform our response.
The findings reveal a deepening humanitarian crisis driven primarily by armed violence. Families have lost homes, livelihoods, and access to basic services, and are now living in overcrowded host communities under extremely difficult conditions.
Women, girls, and children are the most affected:
• Over 70% of respondents were women, many now bearing the burden of caregiving in large households
• 97% of households include children, many of whom are now out of school
• High numbers of pregnant and lactating women, elderly persons, and persons with disabilities continue to face heightened vulnerabilities
• Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a major protection concern, with limited awareness and access to support services
Food insecurity is severe:
• Most households survive on less than two meals per day
• Many families are forced to adopt negative coping mechanisms such as skipping meals and borrowing food
Living conditions remain alarming:
• Displaced families are largely living in congested shared spaces, increasing risks to health, safety, and dignity
⚠️ Protection remains the most urgent need, with nearly 80% of respondents reporting that they feel unsafe.
These findings highlight the urgent need for coordinated, gender-responsive, and multi-sectoral interventions that prioritize:
✔️ Protection and safety
✔️ Food security
✔️ Access to essential services
✔️ Support for women, girls, and vulnerable groups
At Spring of Hope, we remain committed to ensuring that the voices of affected communities are not only heard, but acted upon. We call on government agencies, humanitarian actors, development partners, private organizations, and individuals to urgently support displaced families in Kwande.
ActionAid Nigeria Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs CanadaCPlan International NigeriaiSWIFT MEDIA WORLD Civil Society Organizations, Benue StateUN Women NigeriaiAmplifyChangeCLEAP AfricaABenue State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social WelfareelBenue State GovernmentBenue SEMAe SEMA
