Against the Federal Government’s claim that insurgency in the North-East is all but over, an international NGO operating in the area says the crisis is only getting worse.
Mr. Luis Eguiluz, Nigeria Head of Mission of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) stated in an interview published on its website that the humanitarian crisis occasioned by insurgency is almost crippling the region.
According to him, at least 7 million North East residents are directly dependent on humanitarian aid for survival while many others are unable to access needed aid.
He affirmed the United Nations estimates that at least 2 million people have been sent packing from their homes as a result of insurgent attacks.
“After more than 10 years of conflict between non-state armed groups and the Nigerian military, the situation is only getting worse,” Eguiluz noted.
The MSF Head of Mission added, “The conflict is intensifying and the needs are massive. The United Nations estimates that there are more than two million people who have been displaced from their homes due to violence, and more than seven million who depend entirely on humanitarian aid to survive.
The most serious problem is that there are more than a million people living in areas controlled by non-state armed groups – humanitarian organizations do not have access to these areas, and the people living there do not receive any kind of aid at all.
“The conflict may be nothing new, but this crisis is extreme, and it is happening right now; in our projects we witness the impact that it has on human beings.”
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Eguiluz expressed concerns for the civilian population directly and indirectly affected by the crisis and lamented the targeted of aid workers by insurgents.
He stated that even in communities controlled by Nigerian forces, healthcare, clean water, shelter and protection remain a challenge for the civilian population beleaguered by the crisis.
“The security situation has clearly deteriorated in recent months, and it is a challenge for humanitarian organizations to provide adequate assistance to the population. On the one hand, organizations face the risk of violence – unfortunately, the killings and abductions of humanitarian staff have increased in recent months – and because of this, the presence of aid is very limited outside the state capital, Maiduguri. On the other hand, counter-terrorism laws in Nigeria impose real limitations on humanitarian action and principles.
“In ‘garrison towns’ – towns controlled by the Nigerian military – there are still critical needs that are not covered, especially when it comes to healthcare, clean water, shelter and protection. In many cases, the population is totally dependent on humanitarian aid to survive.
“In the case of Pulka, the population has tripled since the beginning of the conflict and there isn’t enough farmland to cultivate. In addition, people cannot go beyond the town’s military perimeter. If they do, they run the risk of being attacked by non-state armed groups or being considered part of the armed groups by the Nigerian military. And outside the garrison towns, the needs are expected to be even higher since there are more than one million people that have not received humanitarian assistance since the beginning of the conflict.
“In our projects we run outreach programmes, which identify people who are more vulnerable and at risk of violence, exploitation or the loss of basic rights or services. Our first priority is to ensure medical care.
“Then, based on their needs we identify organizations that ensure access to appropriate assistance and services, such as child protection. This is especially important in the case of unaccompanied minors who reach these garrison towns. Often these children have experienced several episodes of violence, and may easily become victims to further abuse,” Eguiluz said of the crisis.