In this interview with LARA ADEJORO, the Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration in Nigeria, Mr Laurent de Boeck talks about how insecurity is affecting the North-Western region of the country and how it is impacting humanitarian efforts
Can you provide an overview of the current security situation in North-West Nigeria and how it is impacting humanitarian efforts?
North-West Nigeria, particularly Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara, is currently facing a multifaceted crisis characterised by increasing levels of violence, including inter-communal clashes, the actions of criminal gangs, and non-state armed groups.
This has led to cycles of violence and a worsening humanitarian situation marked by high levels of displacement. As of December 2023, IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix, our flagship tool used to monitor population movements, had identified more than 622,000 Internally Displaced Persons in the North-West of Nigeria with 231,937 IDPs in Katsina, 160,498 IDPs in Zamfara, 119,787 IDPs in Kaduna, 94,729 IDPs in Sokoto and 15,608 IDPs in Kano.
What specific challenges do IOM, and other humanitarian organisations face when delivering aid in regions affected by violence and insecurity in Nigeria?
In the North-West as in the North-East, IOM and humanitarian actors face the challenge of reaching the vulnerable populations living in areas affected by insecurity.
Due to security concerns, IOM and humanitarian partners must often restrict their operations only to the perimeter of military-controlled areas or in garrison towns. The possibility of delivering aid in a limited space leads to the movement of populations into such locations, which contributes to the congestion and overcrowding of those areas where access to basic social services such as health and education is limited. Furthermore, in deep-field military-controlled areas with heightened risks of attacks and violence, humanitarian actors are only allowed to access such locations by air, which comes at additional costs in an already underfunded situation.
To mitigate this access challenge, IOM operates humanitarian hubs in the eight deep field locations which allow partners to reside in a secure and safe environment, facilitating the efficiency of aid activities. IOM also actively engages in dialogue with the authorities to foster trust, collaboration, and a conducive environment for the effective delivery of programmes.
Regarding the claim that over 600,000 persons have been displaced in North-West Nigeria due to violence and economic hardship, what are the primary needs of these displaced individuals, and how can these be addressed?
The March 2024, IDP Atlas report by IOM’s DTM shows that over 622,000 persons were displaced in the North-West, primarily due to insecurity linked to armed banditry, kidnapping, and communal clashes. Their primary needs are food, shelter, psychosocial support, security, and non-food items to meet their most basic needs.
How best can IOM and other organisations collaborate with local authorities to assist those affected by displacement, and violence?
To address the primary needs of those displaced and affected by violence, IOM and other organisations can foster even stronger collaboration with local authorities to enhance access to remote areas, and thus improve the targeting of those receiving aid. For example, IOM can support the local authorities in conducting regular assessments and monitoring of the displacement situation, as well as providing technical assistance and capacity building for the management of displacement sites. IOM can also directly provide multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance in the form of shelter and non-food items, as well as cash transfers, health services, psychosocial support, and interventions aiming to stabilise communities. Other actors can complement these efforts by providing medical and humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable populations, especially in hard-to-reach areas where health facilities are scarce or non-functional. Furthermore, all actors can coordinate with other humanitarian actors and local stakeholders to ensure a harmonised and effective response, as well as to identify and address any gaps or challenges in the delivery of assistance.
In your experience, what are some of the most urgent medical needs of displaced populations in North-West Nigeria?
There are indeed rising medical needs in North-Western Nigeria, including malnutrition and frequent outbreaks of preventable diseases. One of the reasons why this is the case is because of the limited access to affordable health care. Unfortunately, access to affordable healthcare remains a challenge for many people who live in rural areas and who, as a result, sometimes have to travel long distances to access medical care and facilities. In many LGAs, the healthcare infrastructure is in poor condition, there is not enough staff or medical equipment, which leaves residents, especially in rural areas, without crucial medical services, and also leads to rising infectious diseases, preventable illnesses, and high infant mortality rates.
Can you discuss any innovative approaches or strategies humanitarian organisations have implemented to reach and assist vulnerable communities in insecure areas?
Now more than ever, there is a need to invest in innovative approaches that are cost-effective and yield the greatest impact. One initiative that comes to mind is the joint IOM – Kingdom of Norway initiative aiming to improve access to neonatal care for the displaced population in Borno State. This pilot initiative provides emergency care for newborns in humanitarian emergencies by using solar-powered portable neonatal devices that can fit in an ambulatory system that has a dual power source- solar energy and fossil fuels for ready-to-use; solutions in emergency evacuation and referral linkage for populations affected by the crisis.
The innovative and cost-effective ambulatory systems are scientifically valid, meet local needs, are acceptable to both patients, and healthcare providers, and can be used and maintained with resources that are locally available in humanitarian settings. IOM also recently launched the “Homes for the Displaced” fundraising campaign which seeks to build permanent homes for displaced persons and address the housing crisis in northeastern Nigeria.
The initiative seeks to utilise low-cost, incremental, and modular housing designs optimised for local materials, sustainable practices, and inclusivity. Additionally, in line with the localisation strategy, IOM is implementing the Rapid Response Fund project. The fund provides small grants to local organisations to respond to events of emergency in locations that might not be accessible by other humanitarian partners. The fund allows for the capacity building of local actors, which contributes to the sustainability of humanitarian efforts in the region. One more initiative that we’re particularly proud of at IOM is the Transhumance Tracking Tool. The TTT, as we call it, is a unique tool that can be used to not just solve, but also anticipate intercommunal clashes. The TTT is currently deployed in select Kaduna, Katsina, Adamawa, and Taraba States where it collects key data on transhumance movements to provide the information needed for supporting peaceful transhumance.
With ongoing insecurity and displacement in North-West Nigeria, how do humanitarian organisations ensure the safety and security of their staff and operations?
Reaching vulnerable populations in crisis settings is an important challenge for all humanitarian international and national actors. As humanitarian responders face ongoing security risks, especially in hardship locations, we work closely with local authorities including State and Local Governments to maintain our presence and operational abilities in hard-to-reach places. This enables us to deliver life-saving assistance to people in need where they are most needed. In the North-West, we operate one office in Katsina which covers our activities in the four States. In line with UN security regulations, our movements are closely coordinated with relevant actors to ensure the security of our teams. These measures also extend to our third-party contractors with whom we regularly coordinate movements. In extremely hard-to-reach areas, we sometimes make use of military escorts. This comes at an additional cost to our operations, but it is the price to pay to ensure no one is left behind.
What role do international organisations and governments play in addressing the humanitarian crisis in North-West Nigeria, and how can they better support it?
International organisations can lend their expertise to support the Federal, State, and, Local governments in addressing the humanitarian needs in North-West Nigeria. For instance, recently the Centre for Democracy and Development, Mercy Corps, and IOM have launched a pilot programme aiming at reducing community violence in four LGAs (Batsari, Jibia, Dan Musa, and Kankara) in Katsina State by improving governance systems, fostering social cohesion, and addressing the needs and grievances of communities. By setting up and strengthening local peace structures, this approach will give citizens a space that enables inclusive and participatory ways of solving inter and intra-communal conflicts. The project is designed to acknowledge the individual, community, and Government’s roles in preventing conflict and promoting peace. The success of this initiative is a testament to the power of cooperation and partnerships between national and international actors. This type of partnership needs to be encouraged as they will contribute to supporting the local peace structures and civil society organisations, encourage dialogue, and build trust among the different communities; improving the capacities of the State and Local authorities to provide essential services, enforce the law, and tackle the underlying factors of violence and instability, such as poverty, inequality, exclusion, and environmental damage. Increasing the regional and cross-border collaboration and coordination among the governments and international actors to address the needs of people on the move.
Beyond immediate medical assistance, what long-term solutions do you advocate to address the root causes of insecurity and displacement in the region?
In addition to providing immediate medical assistance, long-term solutions that need to be advocated include permanent housing solutions such as the ones IOM is championing in the northeast and more development-oriented investments that address the long-term needs of education, livelihoods, infrastructure, citizen participation, and social cohesion. These solutions can help reduce the drivers of insecurity and displacement in the region and enhance the resilience and dignity of the affected populations.
Looking ahead, what should be the priorities and goals for humanitarian work in North-West Nigeria, and how can the public support these efforts?
Humanitarian work in the North-West should aim at addressing the most pressing needs of the people affected by insecurity and violence, including the displaced persons. This includes providing permanent shelters, food, and non-food items, but also mental health and psychosocial support to enable people to rebuild their lives.
The public can support these efforts by raising awareness and solidarity with the plight of the displaced and affected populations in North-West Nigeria, and by advocating for more funding and political commitment from the national and international actors to address the root causes of the crisis. The public can also support the work of IOM and other humanitarian partners by volunteering, donating, or partnering with them in delivering lifesaving and life-sustaining assistance to people in need. Beyond humanitarian assistance, however, we need to invest a lot more in development solutions and in ensuring that local populations have access to essential basic services to thrive. This includes investing in education and healthcare, but also peacebuilding, social cohesion, and security.
There is a strong need to foster citizenship and build human capital through technical and vocational training, and entrepreneurship initiatives. This will contribute to decreasing unemployment and underemployment, and also help rebuild the social fabric which had been weakened by violence and conflict. None of this can be achieved without strong and reliable data on migration, but also on development indicators. This is why one of the cornerstones of long-term humanitarian and development solutions is data. As with the Transhumance Tracking Tool mentioned earlier, data begets tremendous opportunities for positive governance.
