Nigeria Situation Report, 25 May 2023

HIGHLIGHTS

• Aid organizations seek US$396.1 million for lean season food security and nutrition multisectoral crisis response.

• Alarming increase in severe acute malnutrition levels recorded in Borno State.

• Influx of Cameroonian Refugees heightens pressure on resources in Adamawa State.

BACKGROUND

Situation Overview

Aid organizations seek US$396.1 million for lean season food security and nutrition multisectoral crisis response

Humanitarian organizations urgently require US$396.1 million to scale up humanitarian action in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states over the next six months to prevent a widespread hunger and malnutrition crisis from turning catastrophic. More than half a million people may face emergency levels of food insecurity, with very high rates of severe acute malnutrition that could result in deaths. A rapid scale up of humanitarian assistance is needed to prevent this.

An estimated 2 million children under five in the three states are likely to face acute malnutrition this year. This is the most immediate and life-threatening form of malnutrition. Some 700,000 children are at risk of severe acute malnutrition -- meaning that they are 11 times more likely to die compared to well-nourished children. They need immediate action to survive.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is scaling up operations to provide emergency food and nutrition assistance to 2.1 million people. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and nutrition partners aim to provide life-saving nutrition services to over one million malnourished children, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) plans to reach two million people with seed packages to secure cereal production for the upcoming harvest.

The $396.1 million funding request is a prioritised part of the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) appeal for north-east Nigeria seeking $1.3 billion to provide life-saving assistance to 6 million people. The HRP is just over 16 per cent funded as of 20 May. More funding is urgently required.

Alarming increase in severe acute malnutrition levels recorded in Borno State

Nutrition surveillance data collected in March and April 2023 indicates a critical nutrition situation in five Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Borno State. These are Bama, Gwoza, Magumeri, Ngala, and Nganzai. About a quarter of the wasted children (those with the most immediate and life-threatening form of acute malnutrition) live in extremely hard-to-reach locations due to conflict and/or physical impediments.

In addition, the number of children with complicated acute malnutrition requiring inpatient care in Maiduguri, Borno State, increased by 48 per cent during the first quarter of 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.

Since late April 2023, almost all stabilization centres (SCs) in Maiduguri have been running at full capacity, leaving many children waiting in line for any bed spaces available.

To respond, the nutrition sector urgently needs approximately $4 million in funding to increase bed capacity (by about 220 beds), support the operational costs of SCs and implement a harmonized nutrition response across Borno State during the lean season. Additionally, $4 million is needed to ensure a secure pipeline of lifesaving nutrition commodities.

Delayed funding as experienced in 2022 could have devastating consequences for many children.

Influx of Cameroonian Refugees heightens pressure on resources in Adamawa State

Ongoing clashes between Government forces and operatives of non-state armed groups in Mutas, Wupai, Ndrok, Kulkubai, and Dulum villages in Cameroon have forced an estimated 30,000 people to flee their homes to seek refuge in Nigeria’s north-east State of Adamawa. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that most of the refugees are moving to Madagali, Michika, Maiha, and Mubi LGAs in Adamawa State. These locations have hosted thousands of IDPs since 2009. UNHCR also reported that less than 30 per cent of the refugees have been registered to receive humanitarian assistance, including healthcare, shelter, core relief items, and water and sanitation hygiene (WASH) kits.

A humanitarian needs assessment indicated that the refugees are facing growing protection concerns, including sexual and gender-based violence and lack of access to basic services. Women and adolescent girls among the refugees said they are worried about sexual and gender-based violence. The assessment also showed that most of the refugee children in Madagali, Michika and Mubi do not attend schools. They instead engage in menial jobs with their parents or caregivers to buy staple food and non-food items for household use. Insufficient shelter is also a serious concern for the refugees, particularly in Madagali.

UNHCR and other humanitarian actors in the State are engaging with the Government to secure land for the construction of shelters for the refugees. Humanitarian actors are also engaging with the Government to meet the other humanitarian needs of the refugees and IDPs.