Nigeria: Yobe State - Weekly Situation Report No. 12 (As of 27 August 2021)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The number of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD)/Cholera cases continue to rise; this week, it rose by 84% compared 671 cases reported on 20 August 2021.

• OCHA Deputy Head of Office had a two-day visit to Yobe on 23-25 August 2021 to monitor and update on the humanitarian situation.

• Collapse of a bridge over a river on the road from Potiskum to Gashua is significantly affecting humanitatian access to eight LGAs in the norther parts of Yobe.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

The number of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD)/Cholera cases continue to rise.

A cumulative total of 1,240 acute water diarrhea/cholera cases, including 25 deaths were reported on 26 August 2021 across 11 local government areas (LGAs). The number represents a 84% increase compared to the 671 cases reported on 20 August 2021. The case fatality rate (CFR) has dropped from 4.6% last week to 2%. A Rapid response team coordination meeting with partners is planned for next week, 31 August 2021.

OCHA Deputy Head of Office visit to Yobe

During the visit of OCHA to Yobe state on 23-25 August 2021, it was reiterated to the Deputy Governor the high appreciation from the humanitarian community for his leadership in this year’s World Humanitarian Day celebration and to appreciate on the state strategy to address the challenge of climate change by embarking on tree planting and the mobilization of the local population to do the same.
The DHoO also met humanitarian partners who noted that the challenge in Yobe is partly attributed to the convergence of poor individuals and families with limited economic opportunities and the humanitarian caseload for lifesaving interventions due to the impact of the conflict. There is, therefore, urgent need to scale up early recovery program activities. Partners are encouraged to take lead in presenting the narrative of the situation on ground in the state and the LGAs so that appropriate support is mobilized. In particular, up-to-date for each sector is needed to support appropriate actions especially food security and nutrition in the different locations.

The DHoO also visited Gashua town in Bade LGA where she interacted with local authorities, humanitarian partners and displaced population, both men and women. Humanitarian partners underlined the challenge of increased Gender based violence (GBV) such as rape cases where some of the survivors are minors and of domestic violence incidences. The need for working space and accommodation of visiting staff was highlighted as Gashua has become a hub for humanitarian response in the northern parts of the state. The LGA leadership informed that the LGA is accommodating a large number of displaced people from Borno, Geidam, Yunusari and other parts of Yobe State due to the relatively calm security situation in the LGA. That the biggest challenge in the LGA is health and WASH, particularly environmental sanitation. Food is only a challenge during the lean season of August and September. The IDPs in some of the makeshift camps underlined the challenge of access to food, and not having received food for over two months, and the need for psychosocial support.

Collapse of a bridge over a major river.

On 22 August 2021, heavy flooding on a major river from Bauchi state resulted in the collapse of a key bridge at Tarajum in Nangere LGA on the Potiskum/Gashua highway. This is the main secure access route currently used by partners and senior government officials travelling to program sites across northern Yobe state. This is significantly affecting humanitarian access. It is not yet clear when the bridge will be fixed.