ReliefWeb

Situation Update

• In Nigeria, the security situation in Borno State remains volatile and very unpredictable. The situation within the Maiduguri State capital remained tense for the reporting period. Most incidents are a result of military operations against Boko Haram insurgents in several local government areas.

• Despite strengthened security measures along the border between Nigeria and Cameroon, Boko Haram insurgents continue incursions into Cameroonian territory. Several incidents occurred during the reporting period, including attacks and suicide attacks in the Mayo Sava department. In Chad and in Niger, the situation remains unpredictable and volatile despite no major incidents in the reporting period. In Niger, the presidential elections were scheduled on 21 February and on 20 March the second round.

• February IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix Report (DTM) identified 2.2 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Nigeria. The vast majority are located in host communities and only 8 percent resides in official sites. February IOM DTM in the Far North region (Cameroon) includes 169,970 IDPs (including 27,000 displaced since January2016), 8,108 unregistered refugees, and 35,434 returnees.

• Results of the March Cadre Harmonisé (CH) food security analysis in the Sahel and West Africa, highlighted that the food and nutritional situation in the Lake Chad basin continues to reflect the impacts of persistent civil insecurity in the region.
  Populations living in areas of civil insecurity continue to face a deterioration in their livelihoods. In addition to this is the deterioration of the living conditions of refugee populations, internally displaced especially in inaccessible areas to humanitarian programs and in host areas. The level of food consumption remains of concern for poor and very poor households in the Lake Chad region of Niger, Nigeria, and Chad.

• The second CH for North East and North West Nigeria was conducted from 25 February to 01 March in eight states (Adamawa, Borno, Jigawa,
  Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara), results have been shared with all key partners. The CH highlighted that the level of food consumption in three states (Borno, Yobe and Adamawa) illustrated food consumption gaps. Households in conflict areas (Borno, Yobe and Adamawa) have been facing disrupted livelihoods. The nutritional status is critical the states of Borno and Yobe which continue to be classified in crisis (IPC Phase 3).

WFP Response

• Scale up in CBT activities is on-going in all four countries of Lake Chad Basin. In Nigeria, WFP has started the implementation of the CBT programme in Maiduguri, Borno State, on 09-10 March. In Niger cash distributions continued in February and March for approximately 30,000 people.

• The Regional Director accompanied the Executive Director on her field visit through the Lake Chad Basin region between 07 and 13 March. The visit included Maiduguri in Nigeria, the Lac Region in Chad, and the Far North region of Cameroon. The Executive Director met with staff, partners, donors and governments.

• WFP is currently using mobile Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (mVAM) as a tool to gather more timely food security information in the affected areas. In Nigeria, the second round of mVAM data collection has been finalized in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States and a first preliminary draft report has been prepared. The third round of mVAM data collection has been concluded and data analysis is ongoing in Cameroon. From March onwards, WFP plans to continue mVAM surveys on a quarterly basis to assess how seasonal events impact on the food security situation of its beneficiaries.