Humanitarian crisis in north-eastern Nigeria : responses and sustainable solutions

Abstract

Since 2009, the North-Eastern part of Nigeria has been engulfed with the scourge of Boko Haram attacks leading to a severe humanitarian crisis and food insecurity within the region. Studies have shown that in the various internally displaced persons' (IDPs) camps, women and children are malnourished, depicting that there is a shortage of food. More importantly, upon the return of many of the local population into surrounding border communities, returning IDPs are met with ransacked houses, stolen food stuffs, and the decimation of their farmlands by members of the Boko Haram sect. This study investigates the various efforts of local and international actors towards addressing the humanitarian crisis within the region and the impact of these actions on women and children. Accordingly, the qualitative research model was adopted using a phenomenological case study approach. The findings from the study reveal the neglect of the inhabitants of border communities and the poor state of IDPs in the various camps as a direct result of the uncoordinated stakeholders' responses and the Nigerian government's inability to fulfil its role as the main actor responsible for providing relief support and coordinating the needed humanitarian solutions to the crisis. To address this problem, the article identified corruption as a major bane which needs to be tackled so that the government agencies responsible for coordinating humanitarian responses can effectively carry out their function. Second, the UN agencies and non-governmental organisations stakeholders have a responsibility of putting away their differences and evolving a common approach for sustainable response and solutions.