A Humanitarian Nightmare: The Realities of Refugees and IDPs in Nigeria

       A Humanitarian Nightmare: The Realities of Refugees and IDPs in Nigeria

As far back as I can remember, I’ve always associated refugees with war-torn countries, bombs going off and people scrambling around with meager belongings on their back, in hopes of outrunning death. Collateral damages of a country’s pride and bloodthirsty need for war. 

But as I age, and become more exposed to the dark realities of the world, I’ve come to realize that those numbers aren’t just figures and blank faces, they are people. With lives, families, occupations; lovers, neighbors, friends; and lost dreams. They are human, with names and identities. Just like me and I. It could be any of one of us. Because in the world we live in today, we’re not so far removed from the reality (or more appropriately, nightmare) of being refugees or displaced ourselves. It’s already happening.                                                   

There’s a saying, ‘Your worst fears can and will come true.’ I’m sure at some point, they never thought they’d be losing everything either. The current insecurity crisis in Nigeria has made an estimated two million people flee from their homes, many of them internally displaced while others refugees in neighbouring countries like Niger, Chad, Cameroon, etc. Borno's capital, Maiduguri, has experienced the worst humanitarian crisis, with over one million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 14 camps.                                                    

 According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Nigeria has the highest number of missing persons of any country registered. Almost 22,000 Nigerians have been reported missing during the decade-long conflict in the northeast. The numbers are ridiculously high, and that’s not accounting for the unreported cases of missing persons. 

   How many families are waiting by the door, hoping every day their missing family member will walkthrough, and life would go back to the way it used to be? This is the current reality. This isn’t a movie, a white production that inaccurately portrays the ills of an apartheid period while downplaying psychological and economical effects. The reality is much worse. The reality is truly heartbreaking. 

According to Round 36 of Displacement Tracking Matrix assessments carried out by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which aims to further shed more light on the intricacies of internal displacement, the situations of returnees, and the needs of displacement areas in Nigeria, there has been a 1.6% increase in Nigeria. Round 35 of the DTM recorded 2, 150, 243 IDPs, in the December 2020 report. Round 36, which totaled 2, 184, 254, identified IDPs in over 447, 628 households. This shows an increase of 34, 011 individuals. This report covers from 08 to 24 February 2021. This is a huge increase in just a period of fewer than two months, for a country that has a huge security budget. 

I know the question going through your head is, how were these numbers arrived at? Interviews were conducted with 5.4% of the identified IDP population ( 117,529 ) to gain insights into their profiles. Reasons for displacement, places of origin and shelter type, mobility patterns, and unfulfilled needs of the displaced populations are some of the information collated and analyzed. This provides data that helps the Government, NGOs, and other organizations make the right call on the type of help the Internally Displaced Persons need; sector-wide needs, food and nutrition, shelter, nonfood items, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health, livelihood, security, and protection. It affords people a more detailed understanding of the dark realities of living removed from your home, familiar and safe environment, your loved ones, and in the care of strangers. Insights into being displaced.

The refugee situation is just as bad on its front. 257, 000 people have sought refuge in neighboring Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Refugees in Niger and Cameroon are relocating back into Nigeria due to poor living conditions and insecurity in their area of asylum. The situation over there is just as bad. In 2020, about 6, 000 refugees crossed international borders back into IDP camps in Nigeria, 68% of them settling in Bama and Damasak towns. The armed conflict seems to have no end in sight. The strategy of the Nigerian Armed Forces, which was to regroup troops into super camps, while improving the security situation for the IDPs already gathered in sites and adjacent garrison towns, has failed to reach its mark as access to humanitarian aids, security, and protection of IDPs and other civilians have deteriorated. The Borno State Government’s aim to relocate displaced persons back into their respective LGAs has raised concern in the humanitarian community as returns may not be sustainable and aligned with the Government’s strategy. 

   

Women and girls all around the world always face Gender-based Violence (GBD) and it’s no different in refugee and IDP camps. They most often are 'spoils of war'. They face threats of abduction, violence, and rape. Sexual violence as well as forced and child marriages are continuously reported and it adds to the insecurity, conflict, and poor living conditions in IDP camps and informal settlements. Just two years ago, in 2020, over 3, 700 cases of GDB were reported. We can’t possibly imagine the added trauma, psychological and physical damage this does to the already traumatised womenfolk. Living constantly in fear.
   

There are a lot more unreported cases of GBV because not everyone is courageous enough to speak up about their ordeals, in fear of retribution. They have no protectors. No safe space. The system to detect and track these incidences is too weak. Desperation is a powerful driving force that makes these women exchange sexual services for food or even protection and other necessities, a negative coping mechanism for the despicable situation they’ve found themselves in.
   

Young boys and adolescent males are not excluded, they also face the risk of forcible recruitment by armed forces or suspicions of being associated with armed groups. Civilians face suffering, death, and injuries from explosive ordnance, which doesn’t exclude the use of bombs in populated areas.
  

The COVID-19 pandemic has also increased humanitarian needs and made it more difficult to respond to said needs. Restriction measures have had to be employed in Nigeria to curtail the spread of the virus, as well as the closure of borders, which hinders the movement of necessities. The economy has also taken a downward spiral, as a lot of the more thriving sectors have experienced massive fall, especially the oil sector. The COVID-19 measures to keep humanitarian aids and beneficiaries safe are all too resource and time-consuming. In the end, the help never gets to the vulnerable. 
   

The Government has to be more proactive in combating conflict and security situations in the more affected areas (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe). Implementing a system of checks and balances, to ensure there are no abuses of power and the rights of displaced persons are respected. This will pave the way for the relocation, re-entrance back into society, as well as resettlement efforts of refugees and IDPs back to their original LGAs.