Humanitarian aid in Nigeria

Background information

The north-east of Nigeria has been massively affected by the terror of the Islamist organization Boko Haram and its splinter groups since 2009. In central Nigeria, the violent clashes between various ethnic and religious groups, in particular sedentary farming families and nomadic Fulani, have caused serious disruption. The inhabitants of the affected regions still have to reckon with attacks, killings, kidnappings and assaults at all times. Around 16 million people are affected by the conflicts and more than 2.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes. The majority of them have lost all their possessions and their livelihoods. Many of them have found refuge in camps for displaced people. However, the situation is particularly precarious for women who were widowed in the attacks. They often have no education and, as widows, they are particularly at risk of falling into extreme poverty and being exploited. For this reason, Mission 21 and its partner organizations EYN and EPRT support the affected people with basic necessities such as food and hygiene products, access to drinking water and basic medical services. Traumatized people can also receive psychosocial support to help them come to terms with what they have experienced. Internally displaced people who return to their home areas are faced with the arduous task of rebuilding their livelihoods.

They support Mission 21 and its partner organizations in rebuilding destroyed houses and wells as well as their livelihoods, e.g. by distributing seeds. In addition, the local population from particularly vulnerable areas attend training courses on disaster risk reduction measures.

Mission 21 also links its humanitarian work to long-term projects, e.g. vocational training measures for internally displaced persons. In the Shuwari camp for internally displaced persons, for example, women and men who have fled their homes can learn various professions so that they can build a long-term livelihood for themselves.

Project goals

• The survival of populations affected by disasters is ensured through emergency relief measures.
• People affected by disasters are supported in rebuilding their livelihoods.
• Through vocational training, refugee women and men are empowered to earn a living and lead self-determined lives.
• Traumatized people have psychosocial support to help them process what they have experienced.
• The vulnerability of local communities in the face of humanitarian disasters is reduced through preparedness measures.
• Local communities are empowered to effectively respond to and manage crises by organizing relief efforts.

Target group

The target group of humanitarian aid is people who are directly affected by disasters and violent conflicts, regardless of their religious, ethnic and political affiliations. A special focus is on internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnee families, as well as on vulnerable groups such as widows from the states of Adamawa, Borno and Plateau.

Activities

• Provision of food and everyday necessities for survivors of humanitarian disasters.
• Providing medical care and ensuring access to clean drinking water for refugees.
• Helping people return to home villages by rebuilding destroyed homes and wells.
• Vocational training for internally displaced persons to create gainful employment opportunities.
• Psychosocial support for traumatized people affected by conflict and violence.
• Training local professionals and vulnerable communities to mitigate risks and cope with disasters
• Establish local and coordinating disaster preparedness structures and coordinate local disaster response strategies.

Project progress

In 2022, the focus was on providing emergency aid to victims of natural disasters such as the floods in large parts of northeastern Nigeria, as well as to internally displaced persons of various ethnic and religious affiliations. To ensure their survival and alleviate their suffering, they were provided with urgently needed food and hygiene items, as well as basic medical services and psychological support. In addition, village communities that lost their belongings due to natural disasters or attacks by Boko Haram and other non-state armed groups were assisted in rebuilding destroyed homes and wells. For women and men living as internally displaced persons in IDP camps, various vocational training programs were available again this year at the Shuwari IDP camp. Thanks to practical training in a marketable profession, they are empowered to earn an income and are no longer dependent on humanitarian aid.