Country Facts
DRC present since:
2015
Staff on location:
292
Displaced population:
10,600,000
Displacement Situation
After more than a decade of active conflict, the crisis in northeastern Nigeria remains one of the most severe in the world. Forced displacement, exacerbated by climate shocks and disease outbreaks, has left over 10.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection across the BAY (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) states. This protracted crisis is characterized by grave human rights violations and widespread protection concerns, including chronic threats to physical safety and security, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), arbitrary arrests and detention, abduction, and forced recruitment into armed groups.
Over 1.9 million people in the region are internally displaced, of which a staggering 80% are women and children, with one in four under the age of five. Sudden, large-scale displacements have triggered worsening living conditions in the region’s already-congested camps and informal settlements, perpetuating and heightening the already severe protection risks. The lack of economic and livelihood opportunities, marked deterioration in food security, and limited access to essential basic services all negatively impact the well-being, and further undermine the resilience, of IDP, returnee, and host communities in Nigeria.
DRC Response
Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has had an operational presence in Nigeria since 2015, and has experience working in 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the BAY states. DRC provides life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable, conflict-affected populations including IDPs, returnees, and host communities in the sectors of armed violence reduction, livelihoods, nutrition and food security, protection, shelter and non-food items (NFI) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). The operational context in northeastern Nigeria remains challenging, as the ongoing conflict impedes conflict-affected communities’ access to what limited basic services are available, as well as DRC and other humanitarians’ access to persons of concern.
Contact
Downloads
The Positive Impact of Unconditional Food Assistance Program in Conflict Affected Communities
April 2022
305.5 kb
Food assistance can be a great tool that alleviates people from the poorest conditions as it allows them to save resources they would spend on food and cover their other needs. In this case Musa could save enough money to advance his livelihood and send his children to school. Here you can download the full success story related to the ECHO-funded project Unconditional Food Assistance Program implemented in North-east Nigeria.
Success Story: DRC and ECHO Improving Mental and Physical Health among displaced in Northeast Nigeria
January 2022
234.6 kb
Success story on how, with support from ECHO, the mental and physical health has been improved among displaced conflict affected persons in Northeast Nigeria. The European Union Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection funded program implemented by Danish Refugee Council (DRC) aims to improve the protection environment of 62,000 individuals identified as vulnerable members of target communities in seven LGAs of Borno State by delivering integrated protection, WASH, and shelter/NFI response in mostly hard-to-reach locations in Borno state through stand-alone protection programming as well as the provision for basic needs through protection integrated hygiene promotion and shelter/NFI solutions. The project runs from May 2021 to April 2022.
Snapshots
''Now, my children can go back to school and there is enough food to eat in the house''
Musa, from Borno state in North-east Nigeria, is 68 years old, has a wife and 13 children. This is his story: “I used to be a farmer before the conflict at Gurgehelm town of Askira Uba. The conflict struck in September 2014, we ran away and left all we had behind. It was a terrible experience. Everything became very difficult as we were displaced for two years before returning back to our village. It became so bad that my children had to beg to be able to eat. My family got selected to receive assistance and that was how my hope was restored. I received money that helped me buy enough food for my family. I go out to farm for people and get paid and I added the money to the little I saved and started farming again on my own. My life is getting back to normal, and I am very happy. Now, my children can go back to school and there is enough food to eat in the house. Thank you, DRC you changed my life."
''Now, my children can go back to school and there is enough food to eat in the house''
Musa, from Borno state in North-east Nigeria, is 68 years old, has a wife and 13 children. This is his story: “I used to be a farmer before the conflict at Gurgehelm town of Askira Uba. The conflict struck in September 2014, we ran away and left all we had behind. It was a terrible experience. Everything became very difficult as we were displaced for two years before returning back to our village. It became so bad that my children had to beg to be able to eat. My family got selected to receive assistance and that was how my hope was restored. I received money that helped me buy enough food for my family. I go out to farm for people and get paid and I added the money to the little I saved and started farming again on my own. My life is getting back to normal, and I am very happy. Now, my children can go back to school and there is enough food to eat in the house. Thank you, DRC you changed my life."
Contributing to Improved Dietary Intake through Nutrition Training
In November, DRC engaged (with funds from USAID) 205 pregnant/lactating women and caregivers of malnourished children in a five-day nutrition training held in ten communities in Adamawa state. The training aimed at improving dietary intake using affordable, culturally appropriate, and locally produced food items. The sessions being theoretical and practical culminated in cooking demonstrations where participants prepared nutritious food for infants. “My children are now recovering,” shared one participant two weeks after attending the training. Access to and proper utilization of nutritious food is essential. Up to 5.1 million people risk being critically food insecure during 2021. Sustained assistance is required to maintain improvements and promote resilience.
Contributing to Improved Dietary Intake through Nutrition Training
In November, DRC engaged (with funds from USAID) 205 pregnant/lactating women and caregivers of malnourished children in a five-day nutrition training held in ten communities in Adamawa state. The training aimed at improving dietary intake using affordable, culturally appropriate, and locally produced food items. The sessions being theoretical and practical culminated in cooking demonstrations where participants prepared nutritious food for infants. “My children are now recovering,” shared one participant two weeks after attending the training. Access to and proper utilization of nutritious food is essential. Up to 5.1 million people risk being critically food insecure during 2021. Sustained assistance is required to maintain improvements and promote resilience.
