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INTRODUCTION
There has been a noted increase in displacement at several sites along the Maiduguri-Monguno Road, namely in Gajiram, Gajiganna and Tungushe towns, over the last several months. Gajiram,
Gajiganna, Gasarwa, and Burimari have been reported as destinations for IDPs since August 2016, with displacement originating from Monguno, Marte and Kukawa LGAs, with a total of 5,461 IDPs recorded by the IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (IOM-DTM) at the end of November 20162 . As of December 2017, the IOM-DTM reported as many as 16,571 IDPs in Gajiganna, 10,741 IDPs in Gajiram, 4,948 in Gasarwa and 2,739 in Burimari. In January 2018, a secondary displacement of IDPs occurred from informal camps in Gasarwa and Burimari due to a related sense of perceived insecurity by the IDPs. In total, 3,457 IDPs left these informal camps moving to Gajiram and Monguno. In January 2018, the IOM Emergency Tracking Tool (ETT) reports recorded 2,633 new arrivals in Gajiram and 350 in Gajiganna from either nearby surrounding villages or secondary displacement from Gasarwa and Burimari. Movements from surrounding villages were reportedly due to attacks or fear of attacks by Armed Opposition Groups (AOGs).
Rapid assessments between October to December 2017, conducted by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and Action Against Hunger (AAH), have reported the majority of newly arrived IDPs in both sites lack appropriate shelter, and need support to access food, water, latrines, and non-food items (NFIs) in Gajiram.
However, information gaps remained regarding the scope of the affected area, the living conditions and number of people remaining in surrounding communities, and whether people remaining planned to displace. To fill these information gaps, REACH conducted an assessment from 15-24 January at three major displacement destinations in the area: Tungushe, Gajiganna, Gajiram. In total, 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with participants from 24 villages displaced in the three months prior to data collection. Key informant interviews were conducted with 34 Bulamas (community leaders), 36 commercial drivers at Monguno, Gajiram and Gajiganna car parks, and 20 market vendors on the Gajiganna market day. Findings should be considered indicative only.
KEY FINDINGS:
• Over the last several months new displacement took place into Gajiram, Gajiganna, and Tungushe, towns situated along the Maiduguri-Monguno road, from the surrounding areas. Two main patterns of displacement were observed: primary displacement fromvillages in the surrounding wards and Local Government Areas (LGAs) due to either fear of Armed Opposition Group (AOG) attacks, or an actual attack occurring; and secondary displacement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Gasarwa and Burimari villages in Jigalta ward to Gajiram and Monguno, as previously reported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
• IDPs arriving in Tungushe, Gajiganna and Gajiram towns reported being harrassed by AOGs for the past year. Recently this harassment has escalated as participants reported their villages of origin being attacked and burned down in the night, forcing them to displace. Those experiencing secondary displacement from Gasarwa and Burimari reported leaving due to perceived insecurity.
• Key informants (KIs) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) participants reported having recent knowledge of their villages of origin since displacement from either commercial drivers, traders, or from men that return to their villages to collect firewood or other personal items. Participants from one village reported this was dangerous and that some of their men had been killed when returning to their village.
• Of the 66 villages which KIs had knowledge on, an estimated 3,643 households have been displaced since November 2017. The majority of those that have come to Tungushe, Gajiganna and Gajiram are from Nganzai and Magumeri LGAs, while others are from Konduga, Jere, Monguno and Mafa. Only a handful of non-displaced households were remaining in these areas according to key informants, suggesting that further displacement from those areas is unlikely.
• According to FGD participants, people planted crops this last harvest, but couldn’t harvest them fully due to insecurity and had to leave their dry season crops behind when they displaced. While some households were reportedly able to bring one to three months of food reserves with them, some where unable to bring any food with them.
• Selling firewood or charcoal is themain source of income for IDPs at these three towns according to FGD participants. Some men reportedly travel to bush areas far outside the town in order to obtain firewood, however these areas are perceived to be unsafe due to the presence of AOGs. In Tungushe, participants reported firewood can be collected closer to the town.
• The main priority need expressed by FGD participants was food, followed by access to water, clothing/blankets, shelter, and cash.
• Food and water were the most common needs on return to their villages of origin, as reported by FGD participants, followed by farming equipment, fertilizer and seeds, access to capital for livelihoods, and shelter.