Abuja, Nigeria, 11 May 2023 — With support from the European Union (EU), the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Nigeria increased its humanitarian operations in Borno State, over a one-year Action, to better serve internally displaced people (IDPs), returnees, and host communities. Notwithstanding challenges such as camp closures and IDPs' repatriation to their own communities, the IRC has been able to strengthen its assistance to these groups.
The IRC has been operating in Nigeria since 2012, delivering life-saving assistance to communities affected by natural disasters, armed conflict, and other poverty-related concerns. The IRC operates eight field offices across northeast Nigeria and a country office in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. Through support from the EU, the IRC Nigeria has expanded its humanitarian activities in deep field locations like Monguno and Gwoza Local Government Areas (LGAS) of Borno State. The one-year Action ended in March 2023 and delivered integrated primary healthcare services through mobile clinics to the most affected population in the two LGAs. This integrated strategy sought to increase access to essential health, nutrition, protection, and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) services, reached a total of 60,000 people among which 35,000 are children, and met the requirements of the host communities. The EU has supplemented these activities by contributing 1,000,000 euros.
The Action also addressed the area's high prevalence of malnutrition by providing outpatient and inpatient treatment services for mothers and malnourished children in both Monguno and Gwoza LGAs, with in-kind materials provided by UNICEF. Furthermore, the program promoted critical health knowledge and practices for strengthening community resilience to the current crisis, including infection prevention and control, family planning, primary health care, and nutritional practices.
The IRC used an in-kind distribution strategy to help pregnant women and vulnerable communities in conflict-affected areas of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States. The Action aided in increasing access to assisted birth, preventing maternal mortality, and improving women's and children's nutrition, hygiene, and protection. The IRC gave pregnant women insecticide-treated nets and Mama Kits (sterile gloves, plastic sheets, cord ligature, razor blades, tetracycline, cotton, soap and sanitary pads) to prevent malaria in pregnancy, as well as Mama Kits later in the third trimester of pregnancy in preparation for birth.
According to the 2022 Humanitarian Needs Overview, 8.4 million people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States require humanitarian assistance, with women and children accounting for the majority of those impacted. With the help of partners, such as the EU, the IRC Nigeria remains committed to providing life-saving assistance and protecting the rights and dignity of vulnerable populations in conflict-affected areas, including expanding access to essential health, nutrition, WASH, and protection services for internally displaced families while also meeting the needs of host communities.
Babatunde Anthony Ojei, Country Director of IRC Nigeria, said:
“I express my heartfelt appreciation to our IRC partners who, despite initial challenges during Action implementation, stayed persistently dedicated. We have been able to give much-needed aid and services to internally displaced people, returnees, and host communities because of their generosity.
Going forward, the IRC will continue to work with like-minded partners on similar projects, with a focus on sustainability and system strengthening to enhance the living conditions of vulnerable communities."