NIGERIA SITUATION UNHCR REGIONAL UPDATE N April 1 May IDPs in Nigeria. Refugees in Niger. IDPs in Niger 50, Refugees in Cameroon

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1 NIGERIA SITUATION UNHCR REGIONAL UPDATE N 5 25 April 1 May 2015 KEY FIGURES 1,235,294 IDPs in Nigeria 1,188,018 IDPs in North East States 47,276 IDPs in North Central States (NEMA/IOM DTM Report, February 2015) 192,131 Total number of Nigerian refugees in neighbouring countries HIGHLIGHTS The distribution of non-food items (NFIs) is ongoing in the Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States. UNHCR and the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) are targeting 3,000 IDPs in each of the three States. On 25 April, the Army of Niger incurred heavy losses when insurgents attacked a military base on Karamja Island, close to Lake Chad. Insurgents reportedly outnumbered military personnel. Another attack took place on 27 April in the Bosso area, resulting in two deaths and many wounded. Insurgents escaped with vehicles stolen from civilians. Local authorities have been distributing birth certificates to refugee children in Cameroon. Newborn refugees in the Minawao camp have received certificates issued by the Mokolo Public Records Centre. School attendance increased 164 per cent in Baga Sola, following an awareness raising exercise undertaken by education sector actors. This exercise s objective was to strengthen ties with the Parents Association and was undertaken through door-to-door outreach. FUNDING USD 98,352,789* *Please see p.11 Funded 8% Populations of concern A total of 1,576,095 people of concern Gap 92% IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES Nigeria: - Protection and assistance to most vulnerable groups among the IDPs and host communities Niger: - Relocation from hosting communities in Diffa region to Sayam Forage camp Cameroon: - Transfer of refugees from insecure border areas to Minawao camp Chad: - Relocation of refugees from Lake Chad islands to Dar Es Salam site 123 IDPs in Nigeria Refugees in Niger IDPs in Niger Refugees in Cameroon IDPs in Cameroon Refugees in Chad IDPs in Chad 100, , , , ,131 2,670 1 Government estimates. 2 Government estimates (i.e. refugees and returnees). 1,235,294 1

2 NIGERIA OPERATIONAL CONTEXT During the week under review, the security situation in Nigeria deteriorated. On 24 April, more than 2,000 insurgent fighters armed with bombs and tanks retook control of the border town of Marte, forcing hundreds of Nigerian soldiers to flee. The insurgents reportedly gathered in Sambisa Forest, one of their strongholds in northeastern Nigeria, while the Nigerian military launched an offensive to flush them out. During the Sambisa operation, 200 girls and 93 women were freed from the hands of their captors. The 200 girls from Chibok, kidnapped over a year ago, were not part of those rescued. This military setback came as Nigerian political analysts predicted that it would take time for the incoming administration to put an end to the insurgency, due to its strong roots in northern Nigeria. The Nigerian presidential elections concluded on Saturday with the governorship rerun in the three States of Abia, Imo and Taraba. In Abia, the People s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Allegiance (APGA) competed for votes, while the All Progressive Congress (APC) and PDP competed in Imo and Taraba. Abia and Taraba were added to the PDP s kitty, and the APC was victorious in Imo. President Buhari inaugurated a 19- member Transitional Committee on 29 April, which will study various government agencies with a view to recommending a plan of action to address critical issues confronting the incoming government. Mr. Alhaji Ahmed Joda has been tipped to lead the Transitional Committee, a development in line with President Buhari s recent reiteration for the need for men of unquestionable integrity in his government. The UNHCR Representative for Nigeria recently met with the ECOWAS Commissioner of Social and Gender Affairs. During the meeting, they discussed cooperation between UNHCR and ECOWAS. Protection There are an estimated 1.2 million insurgency-related IDPs in Nigeria, the majority of whom live in the northeastern States, with the remainder living in north-central States. IDPs In Gombe, preparations are under way for the establishment of the Protection Sector Work Group. UNHCR is working closely with the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and with the Gombe branch of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). During the reporting period, UNHCR finalized the terms of reference and preparatory arrangements for a planned mission to Damaturu (Yobe State) and Maiduguri (Borno state). During the mission, UNHCR will map out the existing protection actors and conduct participatory assessments with IDP communities in Maiduguri to identify their priority needs, resilience mechanisms, capacities, and projects. Results of the participatory assessment will inform protection activities and response plans for IDP communities in the area. UNHCR aims to ensure that their priorities are considered in future planning. The CCCM Officer and Senior Regional Shelter Officer conducted needs assessment Nigeria/UNHCR and the NRCS distributing NFIs in Bauchi State UNHCR/T. Mohammed/April

3 missions to the Gombe and Adamawa States. Their findings will be relevant in designing a strategic plan on shelter. The mission also gave the new CCCM Officer an opportunity to familiarize herself with the operation. UNHCR in Nigeria and UNDP, both involved in protection monitoring, have discussed the challenges experienced so far when implementing relevant activities. They have agreed to harmonize their plans to avoid duplicating efforts in the field. To do so, they will begin by drafting a common Concept Note. UNHCR and UNDP have also agreed to establish a Joint Steering Committee with representatives from UNHCR, NHRC and UNDP to improve the management of the monitoring program, as well as issue badges with the Global Protection Cluster logo to the human rights monitors who were recently deployed. The Governor of Borno State, Mr. Kashim Shettima, created a 12-member panel on 28 April to assess the number of IDPs taking refuge in over a dozen resettlement camps in his State, and to make arrangements for their relocation. A similar meeting was convened in the Adamawa State capital of Yola to discuss the practical modalities for returning IDPs. UNHCR staff participated in the meeting. NIGER OPERATIONAL CONTEXT On 25 April, the Army of Niger incurred heavy losses when insurgents attacked a military base on Karamja Island near Bosso, Niger on Lake Chad. Civilian deaths and disappearances were also reported. Insurgents are said to have outnumbered military personnel, a reminder that the threat posed by this group is not to be underestimated. Another attack took place on 27 April in the Bosso area, resulting in two deaths and many wounded. Insurgents escaped with vehicles stolen from civilians. The security situation continues to prevent humanitarian actors from assisting displaced populations in the Bosso and Lake Chad areas. The availability of military escorts to ensure the safety for humanitarian workers is limited. Protection The Government of Niger has estimated that the insurgency-related population of Nigerian refugees and returnees from Niger has reached 100,000. It also estimates the IDP population to be some 50,000. All of these groups mainly live in camps and with host communities in Niger s south-eastern Diffa region. According to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), 6,352 individuals arrived last week from Nigeria. This group comes from areas under Chadian and Niger Army control. The number of arrivals in the month of April has risen to 10,000. An estimated 4,000 people who had left Niger to vote in Nigeria are reported to have returned. The travel costs were covered by Borno State authorities. Among those arrested for allegedly belonging to the insurgent group during past weeks, two were recently released. The UNHCR protection team will ensure their return to Diffa and reintegration into the Sayam Forage camp. Just under 40 individuals arrived in Niger from Baga Sola, after attacks took place in the Lake region. With the exception of one family, they reported to the UNHCR team that their intention was to transit through Diffa due to food shortages in Chad in order to return to their homes in Maiduguri. In the out-of-camp response context in Diffa, there is a need to reinforce protection coordination among humanitarian actors. Under the guidance of the Protection Cluster Coordinator, discussions are being held to design a collective strategy and adopt a harmonized approach with all actors. 3

4 Health The Diffa region and, more specifically, the Sayam Forage camp have not been affected by the meningitis epidemic until now. It has developed in the country since January The Extended Immunization Programme is continuing in the Sayam Forage camp. This is the fifth round of periodic immunizations to take place since the first arrivals were recorded in the camp, on 31 December This program aims to immunize against diseases requiring mandatory vaccination, namely diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, haemophilus influenzae type B, and hepatitis B. A medical and nutritional screening took place for the Nigerian families who arrived from Chad last week. Among them were five children, including one suffering from severe acute malnutrition. The child was referred to the Diffa Intensive Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre (CRENI). A woman suffering from tuberculosis was also assisted by UNHCR s health partners. Food Security and Nutrition Among the arrivals from Chad, 5 malnourished children were assisted by health partner Action Pour le Bien Etre (APBE). Water and Sanitation In the Sayam Forage camp, there are currently 36 latrines, and 41 are being rehabilitated; 6 have already been completed by the Luxembourg Red Cross (CRL). UNHCR and ACTED are planning an awareness-raising day on the theme of sanitation in the Sayam Forage camp. UNHCR and World Vision (WV) have signed a Letter of Understanding to support WASH activities in the Sayam Forage camp health centre. Shelter and NFIs Care International distributed 612 NFI kits to the displaced population in the communes of Goudoumaria and Maine Soroa, benefiting 4,284 individuals. The NFI Kits are composed of blankets, mats, mosquito nets, buckets, jerrycans, kitchen sets, and soap. CRL finalized the rehabilitation 50 damaged shelters in the Sayam Forage camp. At the Niamey level, tenders were launched to buy shelter materials that are to be sent to the Diffa region. UNHCR and Plan International have signed a Letter of Understanding in order to build 1,000 out-of-camp shelters in the Diffa region. In the context of the urbanization project, CRL has finalized the construction 80 banco shelters (made from mud) in Maine Soroa out of the 350 planned. No further progress is expected before the rainy season. CAMEROON OPERATIONAL CONTEXT The security situation in the Far North region is relatively calm. No insurgent attacks have been reported. Law enforcement and military personnel, who provide security services in the Minawao camp, have received two motorcycles to facilitate patrolling around the camp. Certain refugees, who had chosen to remain at the border with a view to returning to their areas of origin, have been arriving spontaneously at the Minawao/Gawar camp. During the week, 335 new arrivals were recorded. 4

5 Protection The Government of Cameroon has registered 74,000 refugees. UNHCR has registered over 42,000 refugees so far. The Government has estimated that the number of insurgency-related IDPs to be some 96,000. The majority of refugees live in Minawao/Gawar and Gawar sites, while IDPs live with host families; both groups live in Cameroon s Far North. During the week under review, UNHCR transferred 18 refugees from Mozogo to the Minawao camp. Their presence had been reported by local authorities. Local authorities have been distributing birth certificates to refugee children in Cameroon. During the week under review, 538 birth certificates were distributed to children in the Minawao camp by the Mokolo Public Records Centre. During the week, UNHCR and IEDA continued to monitor and provide assistance to children with specific needs in the Minawao/Gawar camp. The topics of food, physical and dress hygiene, as well as methods to expose child violence abuse, were covered. A total of 6,169 persons benefited from these activities. Another 3,037 children attended educational sessions on personal property protection, the handling of dangerous objects, and risky behaviour. In Gadala and Gawar, 559 children participated in educational activities on water deficit pathologies and absenteeism from school. UN Women, through its partner Association de Lutte contre les Violences faites aux Femmes (ALVF), continued to support victims of SGBV and carried out sensitization campaigns on women s rights in the Minawao/Gawar camp. During the week, 5 cases of SGBV were identified and followed up on. Three group therapy sessions for 25 women, 36 men and 25 adolescent girls were organised to allow them to express their traumatic experiences suffered in their areas of origin. There is a need to construct an SGBV counselling space. Counselling currently takes place in the old health post at Minawao/Gawar site, but this space does not meet basic standards of privacy. There are insufficient resources in place to support child friendly spaces and accommodate psychosocial support staff. Public infrastructures around the Minawao/Gawar camp, including Gadala Health Centre and Mokolo District Hospital, are limited. Health Some 1,284 consultations were undertaken (i.e. 788 by IMC and 496 by MSF respectively), 339 of which were for children under the age of 5, who represent just under a quarter of this group. Consultations undertaken by IMC show that acute respiratory infections and malaria are the predominant causes of morbidity in the Minawao/Gawar camp. A contingency plan has been prepared in the Minawao/Gawar camp and surrounding host villages to fight cholera in collaboration with WHO, MSF, IMC, UNICEF, UNFPA and the Mokolo Health District. This plan aims to reinforce epidemiological surveillance, prevent propagation, and strengthen partners capacity in the areas of hygiene promotion, transport and early intervention by providing the necessary assistance and ensuring patient care in treatment centres. In view of recovering the costs linked to laboratory and medico-surgical examinations for refugees aged 5 and above in Mokolo District Hospital, an agreement was prepared between UNHCR and the hospital. There is a lack of preventative measures against measles in the Minawao/Gawar camp. Limited capacity of public health infrastructures around Minawao/Gawar camp, including Gadala Health Centre and Mokolo District Hospital. Mokolo District Hospital requires a blood bank. 5

6 Tricycles used for transporting the sick from remote areas to the health post on site are lacking. Tending to pathologies requiring expertise. Shelter and NFIs During the week, Public Concern finalized preparatory work to construct 500 family shelters. Some 587 family tents are being installed in the Gawar site. A total of 29,423 refugees live in 1,019 tents and 3,211 family shelters and 4,682 community shelters. Public Concern distributed NFIs provided by Plan Cameroun to 26,126 refugees. Construction of 1,457 additional family shelters in Minawao/Gawar to accommodate the camp population. Food Security and Nutrition The general monthly food distribution began on 25 April and lasted 3 days. A total of 32,024 refugees benefited from this (509,183 tons of food were distributed). UNICEF continued to support IMC in the collection and analysis of nutritional data on refugee children. During the past two weeks, eight new admissions were recorded in the camp s mobile nutrition centre, bringing the total number of children admitted to 265 since the beginning of 2015 out of an expected 936. Four new admissions were also registered with in-patient care at the Mokolo District Hospital. The Cameroonian Red Cross (CRC) organised a mass screening for children aged 6-59 months in the Minawao camp. Among the 5,892 children screened, 25 cases of severe acute malnutrition and 321 cases of moderate malnutrition were detected. In the context of the Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programme in the Minawao camp, 104 new juvenile admissions were registered. No new admissions were recorded for pregnant or lactating women (PLW). A total of 392 children and 13 PLW joined in the programme this week, and 17 children were healed and released. IMC and WFP continued screening activities and food distribution in the context of the blanket supplementary feeding programme in the Minawao camp. To this day, 26 of the 27 site sections have been assisted, and activities will end in the coming week. Insufficient sensitization activities on malnutrition. Transport costs have increased because of the volatility of the security situation in the region. Water and Sanitation The 21 boreholes constructed by UNHCR and UNICEF provide 196,000 litres of water per day to the Minawao/Gawar camp. UNHCR continues to carry out tests on 10 additional boreholes, which should provide 20 litres per person per day when fully functional. In view of providing the host population with drinking water, UNHCR is planning to construct 10 additional boreholes in the villages surrounding the Minawao/Gawar camp. MSF continued to carry out water trucking, with the use of five tankers for the distribution of 273,000 litres per day, and local authorities are distributing 16,000 litres per day with the use of 2 tankers. UNICEF, UNHCR and MSF, as well as local authorities activities, have contributed to increased access to water to 15 litres per person per day. This is an important achievement, especially with continuous arrivals since September 2014, which have had a serious incidence on the quantity of water provided. Some 1,309 latrines and 424 working showers are available and allow for a ratio of 26 persons per latrine and 80 persons per shower. 6

7 A team of 45 hygiene promoters has been encouraging good hygiene and sanitation practices in the Minawao/Gawar camp. There is a ratio of 758 refugees per hygiene promoter. Some 2,892 refugees recently benefited from the hygiene promoters work. There is a need to accelerate the construction of 40 boreholes and 397 latrines in the Minawao/Gawar camp to reach basic standards, especially in areas where new family shelters are being built. Education The identification and registration of school-aged children is continuing. A total of 17,115 school-aged children have been identified. Out of 143 children, 47 were recently identified for pre-school, and 82 for primary and 14 for secondary school. The total number of students registered in all grades in the camp is 10,068, which represents just under 60 per cent of all school-aged children identified across the camp. Attendance levels in the primary and secondary grades remain very low (40 per cent for primary and 66 per cent for secondary). The Parents Association, the Camp Education Committee and IEDA Relief will increase awareness-raising activities for parents, particularly in favour of young girls, as certain families prevent their children from attending school. Some 300 people of various ages and varying levels of vulnerability were chosen to be trained for basic jobs. There is a need to recruit additional teachers and construct additional classrooms for the schools in Minawao/Gawar to reach an 80 child per classroom standard. There is a need to construct a high school in Minawao/Gawar. Low attendance rate among girls at the primary level The number of students per classroom is too high. Insufficient learning/school materials Insufficient latrines in schools IDPs In view of profiling IDPs and undertaking needs assessment evaluations, UNHCR organized a training session for 80 census enumerators from the Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga, Diamare, and Logone-et-Chari Departments. WFP and IEDA Relief undertook general distributions in Kousseri, Logone Birni and Maltam IDP sites. By 26 April, WFP had assisted 15,000 displaced persons with slightly reduced half-month rations. Just under 70,000 persons have been identified in the Logone-et-Chari and Mayo Sava Departments for distributions in the first half of CHAD OPERATIONAL CONTEXT The security situation in Baga Sola is calm but volatile. Echoes of insurgent activity in the area keep defence forces on alert. The Army s Chief of Staff and the Territorial Army s Chief of Staff are continuing their support mission in the Lake Region, specifically in Ngouboua and Tchoukoutalia. From 21 to 22 April, UNDSS undertook a security evaluation mission in Baga Sola and Mao and briefed the SMT (Strategic Management Team) during a meeting on 30 April. The UNHCR Field Security staff will be shared their report in a week s time. 7

8 Protection There are just over 18,000 Nigerian refugees in Chad, with 3,000 arrivals registered prior to the emergency. Some 8,894 are registered by the Commission Nationale d Accueil, de Réinsertion des Réfugiés et des Repatriés (CNARR), and 5,286 of these refugees live in the Dar Es Salam site (Baga-Sola), with the remainder live in communities or areas such as Mayo Kebbi East, 235 kilometres south of N'Djamena. The Government has estimated that another 7,000 are living in remote areas. UNHCR, IOM and CNARR have jointly registered 4,892 internally displaced persons (IDPs), 3,398 of which are in Baga-Sola, 1,494 in Bol and 2,010 are returnees. New arrivals continue to be registered in the Dar Es Salam camp, most of whom are single men from Tchoukoutalia. Screening is being undertaken to assess the reasons for these new arrivals to the camp. The first of two evaluation missions to assess the situation in Liwa, a town through which refugees have been crossing into Chad, was undertaken by UNHCR and CNARR, and a second is currently being prepared. Findings of both missions will be shared subsequently. UNHCR participated in the establishment of community mechanisms with UNICEF that aims to ensure child and adolescent protection in the Dar Es Salam camp. With the collaboration of UNHCR, UNICEF and CNARR, a total of four groups headed by community leaders participated in this exercise. A training exercise on the identification, social assessment, and follow-up on the specific needs of individuals was undertaken during the week. Two motorcycles were donated to the sub-prefect of Baga Sola to improve security conditions in the Dar Es Salam camp. Education School attendance has increased 164 per cent in Baga Sola, following an awareness-raising exercise undertaken by education sector actors. This exercise s objective was to strengthen ties with the Parents Association and was undertaken through door-to-door outreach. This increase can also be attributed to the food distribution that took place at the beginning of the month of April, and to the support of the Chancellor of the Nigerian Embassy in Chad. The school canteen financed by UNHCR began providing for refugees through the Chad Red Cross on 23 April. The conditions are still dire, and many refugees lack basic resources such as shoes to go to school. The heat exacerbates the harsh conditions in which refugees live, especially children. Food Security and Nutrition Some 3,247 refugees received food assistance from WFP, out of a 4,961 planned. Another 351 refugees received high energy biscuits. Food donations from the Association de Médecins Tchadiens pour la Bienfaisance and Nigerian Government were distributed in the Dar Es Salam camp. Sensitization of refugees to detect malnutrition Development of community communication links and health agents 8

9 Health Some 261 consultations were recorded in the Dar Es Salam camp health centre, 31 per cent of which were for children under 5 years of age. A total of 466 patients were vaccinated, 138 of these against measles. Another 606 were given vitamin A supplements, and 437 were treated with mebendazole against worm infections. Three awareness-raising sessions were carried out for 2,861 persons on the importance of using the health centre, nutritional screening, vaccination for children aged 0 to 11 months, and the use of the prenatal consultation service. A mass mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening exercise was carried out in the Dar Es Salam camp, for children aged 6-59 months. Shelter and NFIs In the Dar Es Salam site, the construction of shelter, water points, latrines and showers is provided by UNHCR and its partners CRT, APSELPA (Action pour la Protection de la Santé de l Environnement et de Lutte contre la Pénurie Alimentaire), UNICEF and ADERBA (Association pour le Développement de la Région de Bagasola). To date, a total of 1,054 family shelters have been constructed with the use of plastic sheeting. Additional shelters are now under construction. CRT is currently evaluating shelters used effectively. Water and Sanitation Hygiene promotion is ensured by the Chadian Red Cross. During the week, awareness raising for 180 people took place on domestic waste management, disease vector control, and the emptying of rubbish pits. There are 13 functional water points in the Dar Es Salam site, which provide 48 litres of water per person per day. The chlorination of all water points is undertaken by CRT and ADERBA. A total of 292 latrines, 173 of which are functional, and 134 showers have been built, with the current ratio being 29 persons per latrine and 38 persons per shower. These emergency latrines are filling up fast, and family latrines will increasingly be used. Moreover, eight rubbish pits are available. The construction of shelters, latrines and water points is ongoing. 9

10 FINANCIAL INFORMATION UNHCR is very grateful for the financial support provided by donors, particularly those who have contributed to UNHCR activities with un-earmarked and broadly earmarked funds, as well as for those who have contributed to the Nigeria situation in Funding requirements for the refugee component of the Nigeria Situation now amount to USD 75.1 million in addition to Nigeria s existing needs of USD 23.3 million, thus totalling USD 98.3 million. This figure does not yet include Niger s and Cameroon s IDP requirements nor the additional Nigeria IDP requirements. These will be included in the upcoming UNHCR Supplementary Appeal. Donors: Denmark European Union France Germany Japan Switzerland Funding: A total of USD million has been funded out of a 98,352,789 requested Funding Funding Gap Total Requested Private Donors Germany Nigeria Niger Cameroon Chad Contacts: Mr. Ulysses Grant, Liaison Associate, grantu@unhcr.org Tel: +41 (0) Ms. Wendy Rappeport, Senior External Relations Officer, rappepor@unhcr.org Tel: +41 (0) Links: Nigeria regional web portal: data.unhcr.org/nigeriasituation UNHCR Tracks: 4 This figure includes contributions of USD 3 million for the overall situation to be used where necessary. 10

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