Amina*, a 30-year-old mother of six from Nigeria, arrived in Benin in early March, seeking refuge from the escalating violence in the border areas between northern Benin and Nigeria. Her journey was fraught with hardship and fear. “I was sick and I was pregnant, “she recounted. “.
I gave birth to five of my children at home; I have never been to a health center. For this new baby though, I felt that my life would be at risk if I didn’t seek help.”Amina’s story is one of many as thousands have fled to Benin, seeking safety in the border area of Ségbana.
The security situation in the border areas has deteriorated significantly over several months. In early February, violent attacks by armed individuals targeted several villages on the Nigerian side, including Konkosso, Kokani, Zatinna, Kigbèra, and Mazé. The violence has been extreme, with reports of killings, home burnings, looting, and kidnappings.
Zainabou, a 22-year-old woman, described the horror of losing her husband: “Armed men killed my husband. It was early in the morning, and we heard gunfire and then screams from the first people attacked. My husband opened the door to see what was happening and as soon as he closed it again, they arrived.
They forced the door open and shot him in front of me.”The refugees arriving in Benin are facing dire conditions. Accommodation is overcrowded, and essential needs such as food, hygiene services, and clothing remain largely unmet.
The lack of adequate shelter, combined with limited access to water, sanitation, and healthcare, has led to precarious living conditions. Ibrahim, a 45-year-old man, described the scale of the attacks: “There were a lot of them, people who arrived on motorcycles. They were shooting and there were explosions as well.
Several people had their throats cut; others were shot. They set fire to our motorcycles. I saw people fall.
They kidnapped people, including my little brother.”Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been providing emergency assistance to the displaced in Ségbana since March 4, 2026. The organization has set up free primary health care services, including consultations, maternity care, and medical referrals.
Mental health and psychosocial support are also being provided to help refugees cope with the trauma of the violence they’ve experienced. Laurent Ndalume, the Medical Manager of the project, reported that between March 4 and 22, MSF provided 2,541 outpatient consultations, including 589 for children under 5; 438 prenatal consultations; 91 pregnant women under medical care; assisted 69 deliveries; admitted 82 to hospital; referred 18 to specialized structures for further care; and undertook 19 mental health and psychological support consultations.
In addition to medical care, MSF has taken steps to improve the living conditions of refugee families. The organization has distributed 600 kits, including soap, mosquito nets, water purification tablets, and hygiene items. To ensure access to safe drinking water, 5,000-litre tanks have been installed at the health center and in the community. MSF teams have also cleared pits and built 17 emergency latrines to prevent water- and hygiene-related diseases.
Source: reliefweb
