NIGERIA Monthly Humanitarian Access Report September 2019

This report is for the exclusive use of the Nigeria Humanitarian Country Team. It is produced by OCHA Nigeria in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 1 to 30 September 2019.

HIGHLIGHTS

 Suspension of two INGOs and increased pressure on humanitarian agencies in Borno and Yobe states (pp.1,4)  Impact of the military “super camp” strategy on physical access (p.5)  Impact of fuel restrictions on humanitarian operations and health activities (p.2)

ACCESS CONSTRAINTS UPDATE

Restriction of movement of agencies, personnel, or This section focuses only on new developments observed goods within the affected country during the reporting period. It does not constitute an in-depth review and long-term analysis of each access constraint in Suspension of AHH/ACF and Mercy Corps and Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States. increased pressure on humanitarian organizations: On 18 September the office of Action Against Hunger/Action some NGOs were providing assistance to NSAGs, Contre la Faim (AAH/ACF) was closed by the military in compromising national security and military efforts to end Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. Offices in Damaturu the conflict. This allegation triggered a resolution by the and Potiskum (Yobe State) were closed in the same House leadership to consider the re-introduction of an NGO manner the following days. As a precautionary measure Regulation Bill that had been dropped following ACF suspended all emergency and recovery activities in all widespread public criticism in 2017, noting that some NGOs other offices in Borno and Yobe states. will first be invited to respond to the military indictment. The decision to close ACF operations in Borno and Yobe Negative media coverage accusing humanitarian agencies states was confirmed through a press release from the of aid diversion and support to non-states armed groups Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole on 19 drastically increased after the military announced the September, alleging that the INGO had been providing food closure of AAH/ACF and Mercy Corps offices. at least 16 and medicine to non-state armed groups (NSAGs)1 without stories were published in Nigerian media throughout the pointing to any specific incident or evidence. last ten days of September. Humanitarian agencies fear that such coverage - generally relaying false accusations - On 24 September, the military ordered the closure of Mercy may negatively affect their perception amongst the Corps offices in Damboa, Gwoza and Dikwa (Borno State) population, their working relations with local authorities, and and Damaturu (Yobe State). The decision followed the could ultimately put their staff at increased security risks. arrest of three individuals transporting cash to Damboa and claiming to be operating on behalf of Mercy Corps2. Humanitarian cargo movements: Infrequent military escorts between Pulka and Gwoza, Banki and Banki On 02 October a Board of Inquiry was set-up by the Theatre Junction, and along the Maiduguri to Ngala axis continued Commander to investigate the circumstances that led to to hamper humanitarian cargo movements in September. the suspension of these two INGOs. Escorts were organized approximately every two to three As of mid-October 2019, operations of the two INGOs days on the Pulka-Gwoza and Banki-Banki Junction routes remain suspended and all their offices in Borno and Yobe and approximately once per week along the Maiduguri to states are closed3. Dikwa and Dikwa to Ngala routes. On 23 September, during a briefing to the leadership of the In early September, the Logistics Sector negotiated a House of Representatives on the security situation in the contracting modality addressing the military’s directives that north-east, Nigerian military service chiefs alleged that trucks transporting humanitarian cargo to Dikwa, Ngala and

1 See Press Release on Nigerian Army HQ Facebook page here. in Fika and in the State Specialist Hospital in Damaturu, which were both 2 The allegation has been contradicted by the INGO, which stated supported in part by ACF. The closure of the two Stabilization centers – univocally that the three individuals were not acting on its behalf. run by staff from the State Ministry of health - lasted for almost a week on 3 suspicion that ACF staff were still present. They were reopened on 1st See Page 4 an overview of the impact of the closure of ACF and Mercy and 3rd of October 2019 respectively. Corps. Additionally, following the closure of ACF offices the military also closed nutrition stabilization centers in the government General hospital

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Damboa be accompanied by a representative, recovery Approximately 80 per cent of affected partners are working vehicles, and satellite communications devices. This in the Health Sector or carry out common services on behalf directive had caused a cessation in escorts along the of the international community. eastern axis (Dikwa/Ngala) during much of August. Costs While many secondary health facilities are relying on solar related to these new requirements are to be covered by power, around 15 general hospitals remain highly humanitarian organizations through the National Union of dependent on generators and are directly impacted by fuel Road Transport Workers (NURTW), which supplies the restrictions, disrupting the operation of life-saving recovery vehicles and communications devices. At the time equipment, ambulances and cold-chains, and potentially of writing, the NURTW had proven reliable in providing this leading to wastage of temperature-sensitive drugs4. service. The additional cost is estimated to range around 500,000 USD per year for all organizations combined. Fertilizers: As per a directive from the Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA) dated 25 June 2019, only “wet Humanitarian agencies providing food assistance through blended NPK, liquid, and organic fertilizers” were approved cash or voucher-based modalities have been facing for use in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states for the 2019 increased scrutiny from the military since August. According rainy season. Use and transport of other fertilizers is to these modalities, the responsibility of transporting food prohibited. Despite their approval by ONSA in Abuja, from Maiduguri to field locations is transferred to local agencies have faced some challenges transporting liquid vendors and their transporters, resulting in cargo fertilizers. On 18 September a truck transporting bio- movements notifications not being handled by the Logistics fertilizer was impounded in Damaturu due to officers on the Sector and reviewed by the Theatre Command. ground being unfamiliar with the directive and operating on Discussions are currently ongoing with military counterparts the assumption that all forms of fertilizers had been banned. to ensure that such activities can continue unimpeded. In relation to that incident, a staff of the INGO responsible NSAG activity in Yobe State has led to increased scrutiny for that cargo movement was briefly detained between 23 of humanitarian operations in the state. On 24 September, and 24 September. Current restrictions increase costs per military representatives from the 8th Division requested that beneficiary and reduce the overall response capacity. The a notification mechanism for humanitarian road cargo non-application of fertilizers may reduce crop production movements (including cash) be re-instated. This would from 30 to 50 per cent in an area where production is apply to UN agencies, INGOs and LNGOs. already limited by lack of physical access to agricultural land. Consultation with ONSA is ongoing to ensure that the In the second half of September, the military in Yobe State use and transport of wet-blended NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer is ordered an INGO to suspend the provision of food and allowed for the upcoming dry season agricultural activities. nutrition assistance in Gujba and Gulani LGAs, on the basis that military operations were ongoing in the area. 40,000 Cash movements: A notification mechanism satisfying people were to receive assistance through vendors in the both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission first half of October. As of 15 October, the INGO had still (EFCC) and international NGOs was set in place in July not been able to resume these activities. Other activities 2019 to clear all movements of cash organized by INGOs were not impacted. and their vendors within Borno and Yobe states. This mechanism has been implemented without any significant Fuel: Military restrictions imposed on fuel transport in July issue being reported in the last three months, with all cash 2019 continue to hinder humanitarian operations in Borno movements requests submitted by INGOs having been State. The new policy reduced fuel movement allowances cleared in a reasonable timeframe by the EFCC. from 1,000 liters per day per location for each organization to 1,000 liters per week. Violence against humanitarian personnel, assets and Fuel is an essential component of humanitarian operations facilities and activities, particularly in the absence of an electrical Four violent incidents directly impacted humanitarian grid in most field locations. It is used to provide power for organizations in September. health and medical facilities, support humanitarian projects in the fields of rehabilitation and borehole drilling, and Execution of an INGO-affiliated staff member: On 21 sustain common services such as Humanitarian Hubs, all September a Nigerian journalist shared information that of which require 24/7 operation. Additionally, humanitarian members of an NSAG had executed one of the six ACF- organizations require fuel for the day-to-day operation of affiliated staff kidnapped along the Gubio-Damasak road in vehicles and generators for offices and accommodations. July 2019. The identity of the victim has not yet been ascertained. As of end of September, seven humanitarian Though some organizations require far less fuel than workers abducted in 2018 and 2019 were still missing. others, at least 10 to 15 humanitarian partners with medium to large scale operations require the transportation of 8,000 Other targeted incidents: On the night of 20 September in to 20,000 liters of fuel per month to various locations. Monguno town, around ten unidentified armed individuals entered a medical facility supported by an INGO,

4 As of early October a total of 15,460 vaccine doses were stocked in ambulance services due to lack of fuel led to the death of a 10-year old Monguno hospital alone. In the same town, the temporary suspension of child who could not be referred to a MCH.

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threatened staff members and stole medical, IT and provide in October a new estimate of the total population communication equipment. still residing in these areas.

Non-targeted incidents: On 4 September, an INGO staff Restrictions on, or obstruction of, conflict affected member and his driver were slightly injured when a military populations access to services and assistance vehicle escorting a civilian convoy between Dikwa and Bama town came under fire from NSAGs operatives. On 23 Congestion in IDP camps continue to be a major issue in all September in Monguno, an INGO staff member was garrison towns in Borno, mainly due to lack of land. assaulted by a soldier who mistakenly assumed that the Attempts to negotiate for camps extension in several staff had been taking pictures of a passing military convoy. locations didn’t lead to any positive development in On 26 September a LNGO staff member travelling between September. Buni Yadi and Biu was killed by a road-planted IED. As of the of end September 985 shelters built in Ngala in 2018 remain unoccupied, due to the military not having Military operations and ongoing hostilities impeding authorized their use. Another 500 shelters built in Banki humanitarian operations during the same time period were never occupied and See updates in the “Physical Access” Section (p.5). ended up being dismantled by the Shelter/NFI Sector and converted to repair materials. The total cost of all these Presence of Explosive Ordnances shelters is estimated to be around 430.500 USD. In September, five incidents involving road-planted IEDs NSAGs operatives continued to attempt to infiltrate Dikwa were recorded in Borno State and two in Yobe State. Three town. This has forced IDPs living at the edge of the security incidents in Borno State were reported along the Maiduguri- perimeter to relocate to other camps, further congesting Banki axis and were all recoveries by the Nigerian military. camps. Two other incidents were recorded in Askira/Uba LGA. The last incidents recorded in that LGA had occurred in June In the short-term the creation of “super camps” has led to 2018 and March 2019. increased camp congestion in several garrison towns, due to the relocation of additional troops to these localities. In In Yobe State, two IED incidents were recorded on the the medium-term the creation of “super camps” could same day along the Damaturu-Biu road, south of Buni Yadi. however allow for an expansion of IDP camps, if additional These incidents resulted in the death of six civilians and one troops are allocated to dig new trenches and extend Nigeria police officer. A LNGO staff member was among security perimeters. those who lost their lives. The last incident in the area had been recorded in November 2018. Physical environment The rainy season continues to affect the operational reach of humanitarian agencies. The road from Ngala to Rann is still considered unusable. Gaps in service in Rann have caused small-scale population displacements towards Ngala since July 2019. Despite the existing constraints, one LNGO managed to transport WASH materials to Rann via Cameroon in early September. Assistance was moved over the Bodo River and transported on donkeys on the Nigerian side. A similar operation was conducted early October, allowing some Government food to reach that location (2,500 bags of Civilian vehicle hit by a victim-operated IED along the Biu-Buni Yadi road Maize, 500/10kg bags of beans). No other significant (Yobe State) on 26 September, causing the death of a LNGO worker. assistance has been provided since July 2019. This was the second incident of this type directly affecting relief operations and/or aid workers this year. Elsewhere in Borno State heavy rains cut off road access These events confirm that the direction from Maiduguri to between Damboa and Chibok. As of early October, seven Banki requires frequent and systematic clearance trucks transporting food assistance from Maiduguri to operations by Nigeria security forces. Attention should Chibok were stranded in Damboa. apply to the preparation and conduct of any movement due Restriction of movement of agencies, personnel, or to a lack of predictability on other road axes. goods into the affected country Denial of the existence of humanitarian needs or of The import of armored vehicles was suspended by federal entitlements to humanitarian assistance authorities at the end of August 2019, “until relevant Providing aid to people outside of government-controlled authorities develop a new set of guidelines and SOPs for areas remains forbidden. The situation is likely to remain the importation of such vehicles”. As of the end of unchanged in 2019. The Access Working Group should September, the measure was still in effect. The restriction mostly affects UN agencies and diplomatic missions.

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IN FOCUS: IMPACT OF SUSPENSION OF INGOs

ACF/AAH has been working in Nigeria since 2010 and is stopped receiving stipends from their INGO partner. the largest INGO operating in Borno and Yobe. It is responsible for some of the largest operations in these two Nutrition states, providing essential nutrition, health, food security Around 7,500 children in need of nutrition support have lost and WASH assistance to around 3.5 million people in 2018. full or partial access to fresh food and treatment provided ACF/AHH also implements large scale recovery/system by 9 stabilization centers and 88 OTPs. strengthening interventions in Borno and Yobe. WASH Mercy Corps is the fifth largest INGO operating in Borno and Yobe. Between June 2018 and July 2019, the Over 55,000 people have lost access to drinking water organization reached close to 1 million people with life- provided through water trucking in IDP camps and host saving assistance in the areas of food security, WASH and communities on a daily basis. These include recently shelter. displaced IDPs in Damboa. Geographical Scope Suspension also impacts around 100,000 people who were targeted with sanitation support, 380,000 with hygiene kits, The decision to close offices of these two INGOs and close to 270,000 who were to be reached through immediately impacted emergency response activities in 16 hygiene promotion. LGAs in Borno and 6 LGAs in Yobe. Offices were closed in Maiduguri, Biu, Damasak, Damaturu, Damboa, Dikwa, Shelter/NFIs Gwoza, Monguno, Ngala and Potiskum. A total of around 800 staff were affected. Shelter assistance to 21,000 vulnerable people has been suspended.

Protection Thousands of vulnerable women and girls have lost access to protection support and services.

UNHAS-supported relocations UNHAS helicopters had to be diverted from routine operations to allow for the rapid relocation of INGO staff out of Monguno, Damboa, Bama, Gwoza and Ngala. A total of six stand-alone flights were organized between 24 and 26 September to move 57 INGO employees back to Maiduguri, for a minimum estimated cost of 21,000 USD.

Logistics A warehouse managed by an INGO in Yunusari LGA (Yobe State) was closed between 25 September and 2 October, LGAs impacted by INGOs suspension, Borno and Yobe States, on the suspicion that items stored inside were from one of emergency activities only the suspended INGOs. The warehouse was re-opened after investigations concluded those items didn’t belong to Food & Livelihoods the suspended INGOs. The interruption of life-saving food assistance has left A large quantity of medical supplies remains stored in one around 470,000 people (386,000 in Borno State and 82,000 of the INGOs office in Maiduguri. The military allowed for in Yobe State, both from IDP and host communities) without the generators to be run by WHO to maintain temperature food aid. control in this storage facility. Some 12,600 people have been deprived of income opportunities through cash-for-work activities, including 600 Development and Recovery Activities adolescents who are deprived of livelihood opportunities. About 180,000 people across the two states will be deprived of food security and livelihood assistance, as well Health as social protection interventions. Immediate interruption of support to 54 health facilities and Approximately 175,000 people will not access infant and suspension of 33 mobile clinics, serving about 41,000 young child feeding programmes or behavioural change persons (36,000 in Borno State and 5,000 in Yobe State). communication for better nutrition and care practices. 400 health staff seconded by Borno and Yobe states

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PHYSICAL ACCESS

In geographical terms, agencies’ access to populations in These three bases and the proposed “super camps” cover need has declined between July and September 20195. all towns where Humanitarian Hubs are located. LGAs which have been the most affected are Mobbar, The future status of more than 20 other bases is uncertain Gubio, Magumeri and Nganzai in Borno State, and Gujba and has not yet been clarified by the Theatre Command. and Buni Yadi in Yobe. Seeing several of these bases being vacated and in the absence of clear information over the future of the rest, Two main factors explain that trend: humanitarian organizations have adapted their operations  Kidnapping of six aid workers and killing of a driver on to reduce staff exposure. the Gubio-Damasak road (Borno State, Mobbar LGA) Overall, the “super camps” strategy has for now had the on 18 July 2019, following impact on humanitarian operations:  Announcement at the end of August that the Nigerian - significant decrease of humanitarian agencies’ military would abandon some forward operating bases presence along the Maiduguri-Damasak and and concentrate forces in 20 “super camps”, Maiduguri-Monguno roads, suspension of staff Kidnapping and increased insecurity on main roads movements by road between Gubio-Damasak and Gajiram-Monguno; The July kidnapping incident led to the immediate suspension of all INGO activities outside of Damasak town - humanitarian staff no longer staying overnight in these areas and reducing regular trips to key - impacting around 80,000 people living in 80 villages in operational areas to once or twice a week down from nine wards. The movement of all staff between Gubio and Damasak was also interrupted. These developments the previous frequency of six to seven times a week.; render Damasak only accessible by helicopter. Staff visiting these locations must start moving back to Maiduguri by early afternoon, and While humanitarian agencies remain able to drive to Gubio - adjustment of food distribution modalities, splitting town from Maiduguri, access to rural areas in Mobbar and Gubio LGAs has been lost since July 2019. This is a large distributions into several smaller ones. worrying development as the population density remains Despite no program having yet been suspended, reduced very high in Gubio LGA. Almost no population humanitarian presence impacts negatively on the ability of displacements had been recorded from that LGA in the first vulnerable people to access services (nutrition and health half of the year. in particular). It also affects agencies’ capacity to monitor A relatively high number of critical security incidents were activities and to maintain contextual awareness. reported over several road axes over the month of Other potential implications include higher insecurity along September. These include at least 12 ambushes targeting the Maiduguri-Damaturu road and the imposition of military security forces and 16 attempted interceptions of civilian restrictions on program delivery – particularly food vehicles or roadblocks set up by NSAGs operatives distributions – in areas where government presence falters. (including six on Bama-Pulka road, three on Dikwa-Ngala and two on Damasak-Gubio road). Combined with the July kidnapping such incidents have encouraged most organizations operating in other part of Borno and Yobe to reassess risks and reduce their exposure on all road axes.

Redeployment of military forces in new “Super camps” The military “super camps” strategy aims at consolidating forces in larger and better defended bases, vacating exposed forward operating bases and relying on troops’ mobility to respond to threats and provide security along major road axes and inhabited areas. A list of 20 “super camps” was first communicated by the military, to which were added three operational bases where troops should remain (Banki, Pulka and Rann).

5 See Humanitarian Access Map (September 2019) page 6

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ACCESS AND CMCOORD ACTIVITIES

Access Working Group  Update of mapping of accessible areas in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states: In consultation with operational agencies, OCHA has updated the mapping of areas considered accessible by INGOs and UN agencies, and produced new highly-detailed access maps to improve analysis at the LGA level. The format of these maps is to be validated by the Access Working Group.  Population estimate for non- accessible areas: The Access Working Group should finalize the review of new population estimates in inaccessible areas, to be presented to the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in October 2019.

Extract new OCHA Access Maps, Damboa surroundings Other Access and CMCoord activities  Upcoming Peer Workshop on Frontline Humanitarian Negotiations (Frontline Negotiations, Centre of Competence on Humanitarian Negotiation, Abuja, 05-07 November 2019). Applications can be submitted online.

Interesting reads (click on title to link)  End of visit statement of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions on her visit to Nigeria (Agnes Callamard, United Nations Special Rapporteur for Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions. 2 September 2019).  Press Release – Sabotage of the counter-insurgency operations in the North-East (Army Public Relations Operation Lafiya Dole, 19 September 2019).

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