North-East Nigeria Operational Update, January 2023
UNHCR sensitised 33,100 IDPs, returnees, and host community members (6,481 households) on safety, security, peaceful coexistence, GBV, human rights, and referral pathways.
UNHCR distributed NFI items to over 16,600 new arrivals (2,046 households) of Cameroonian refugees in Mubi North, Mubi South, Michika, and Madagali LGAs of Adamawa State.
UNHCR and partners distributed nearly 700 dignity kits to female Nigerian refugees of reproductive age who were voluntarily repatriated from Cameroon to Banki in Bama LGA of Borno State.
Operational Highlights
■ In January, Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs) attacked military and civilian targets in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) States, thereby jeopardising the humanitarian response in North-East Nigeria. In Borno State, NSAG members attacked a primary health care facility in the Gur village of Biu Local Government Area (LGA) and stole medical supplies. Apart from attacking a military convoy on the Maiduguri-Damboa main supply route, NSAGs also mounted Illegal vehicle checkpoints along the Maiduguri-Ngazai, Maiduguri-Gubio and Maiduguri-Magumeri roads and abducted motorists to demand ransom from their family members. In Adamawa State, NSAG members kidnapped some civilians for ransom, while banditry was reported in different LGAs. Meanwhile, in Yobe State, NSAGs attacked road users along the Damaturu-Gujba main supply route. Criminal elements burgled the residences of some humanitarian workers and the warehouses of some humanitarian agencies.
■ During the reporting period, more than 90 civilians, mainly IDPs, returnees, and host community members, were affected by safety and security incidents perpetrated by NSAG members, criminal elements, and natural events in the BAY States. Such incidents included armed attacks, IEDs, abductions, Illegal vehicle checkpoints, crime, civil unrest, fire outbreaks, and road accidents. Over 80 per cent of these incidents occurred in Borno State, 14 per cent in Adamawa, and six per cent in Yobe.
■ Following a new currency design initiated by the Federal Government of Nigeria, most members of the affected population and the general masses faced enormous difficulties in swapping old Naira notes for new ones. Consequently, the affected population and humanitarian community faced challenges in implementation due to the lack of new Naira notes in circulation.
POPULATION MOVEMENTS
■ In January, IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) showed that more than 4,920 individuals were displaced in Borno and Adamawa State. In Borno State, there were new arrivals in Gwoza, Pulka, Monguno, Ngala, Dikwa, Rann, Bama, Kala Balge, Askira/Uba, and Damboa LGAs, while in Adamawa, they were recorded in Gombi, Uba, Maiha, Lamorde, Girei,
Michika, Song, Yola South, Mubi South, Hong, Numan, and Fufore LGAs. The displacements were triggered mainly by poor living conditions, family reunification, military operations, apparent improved security, access to humanitarian assistance, persistent NSAG attacks, camp closures, and government-assisted relocations.
■ During the month under review, over 140 Nigerian refugees (27 households) spontaneously returned to Borno State from Niger and Cameroon. Some 118 individuals entered through Damasak from Niger, and 23 others through Pulka from Cameroon.
■ On January 30, some 114 new Cameroonian refugees (37 households) arrived at Madagali LGA in Adamawa State, bringing the total number of Cameroonian refugees forced to flee by NSAG attacks in the Far North Region of Cameroon into the State to 17,317 individuals (2,304 households), spread out in Madagali, Michika, Mubi North, and Mubi South LGAs. NSAG attacks in some of the villages in neighbouring Cameroon continue to forcibly uproot people and displace them as refugees to Madagali, Michika and Mubi in Adamawa State.
■ UNHCR commenced the distribution of NFI kits, targeting more than 16,600 individuals (2,046 households) in the face of multisectoral gaps, especially in the areas of food, education, shelter and GBV. Unfortunately, limited human and financial resources compounded the situation by constraining the provision of adequate assistance and services to the Cameroonian refugees by protection and humanitarian actors.
■ On 20 and 24 January, the Governments of Nigeria and Cameroon, with the support of UNHCR under the framework of a Tripartite Agreement, repatriated 1,319 Nigerian refugees (349 households) into the country. The refugees were voluntarily repatriated from the Minawao refugee camp in the Far North Region of Cameroon to Banki town in Bama LGA of Borno State. They included 193 men, 339 women, 407 boys, and 380 girls. Pending a promised rehabilitation