Humanitarian Bulletin
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Humanitarian Bulletin Nigeria Issue 05 | September 2013 2013 In this issue Update on floods P.1 Update on Northeast Nigeria P.2 HIGHLIGHTS Kogi, Kwara and Niger States to Advocacy Visit to Minister of Education P.3 evacuate communities due to the Returnees from Bakassi Need Assistance P.4 Kainji and Jebba dam overflow. 7,924 households displaced by Nigeria–EU Present Findings to NEMA P.4 flooding. Lassa fever and cholera outbreaks P.4 An estimated 690 people have been killed in 35 attacks attributed to Boko Haram since the state of emergency. 1,111 suspected Lassa Fever cases with 33 deaths reported from 26 Local Government Areas Floods: 7,924 Households Displaced by, NEMA in 12 states. orders Evacuation of Communities KEY FIGURES Floods in the last two weeks of August have left an estimated 47,544 people (about 7,924 No. of children <5 296 500 households) displaced across the country according to the National Emergency estimated affected Management Agency (NEMA). The most affected states are Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Abia, by SAM in 2013 Zamfara and Kogi. Currently, the states at highest risk of floods are Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Kebbi, Anambra and Delta. No. of children <5 910 516 estimated affected by MAM in 2013 FUNDING USD$30.9 mil Projected for Sahel response in 2013 (Source: 2013 Food- Security Strategy and Action Plan For The Sahel in Nigeria) USD$6.5 mil Received from CERF to respond to flooding USD$22 mil Pledges, commitment and contribution to Nigeria in 2013 (Source: Financial Tracking System) To date, 23 deaths have been reported, seven from Bauchi, five from Edo, four from Ebonyi, four children from Zamfara and one from Kano state; exact figures of the displaced are unknown. NEMA has donated relief materials to populations affected by floods in Kastina, Bauchi, Gombe, Kogi, Zamfara, Jigawa and Kano states. www.unocha.un.org/rowca | www.unocha.org United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) • Coordination Saves Lives According to State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), floods in Bauchi state Figure 1 States at risk of affected 13 Local Government Areas namely, Dambam, Kirfi, Alkaleri, Zaki, Bogoro, Toro, floods-flooding Jama’re, Shira, Itas/Gadau, Darazo, Ganjuwa, Dass and Bauchi— affecting a total of 123 villages. The floods killed seven and hospitalized 17; 2,217 farmlands were reportedly submerged and 1,529 homes destroyed. One school is currently being used as a campsite for IDPs. Abia State has also been badly affected by floods in 11 Local Government Areas Kebbi composed of 20 villages. A reported 2,969 people have been displaced, an unspecified number of homes destroyed, livelihoods disrupted, and drinking water sources compromised. Landslides have also followed from the heavy rains and overflows of the Avu dam at Akanu Item community and the Ikwu river banks in Umuahia North and Ndu Niger lake in Obingw. Access to roads affected has been limited as a result of the flood. Kwara FCT NEMA has ordered the immediate evacuation of communities along the Niger River after assessments indicated that the Jebba and Kainji hydroelectric power dams have attained Kogi their highest water level in the last three decades. According to the NEMA, the threat has created a high risk of flooding downstream of the river. Communities along the river are being relocated to higher grounds. States at risk are Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Kebbi, Anambra Anambra and Delta. Delta Sectoral Needs and Response Since March 2013, NEMA has been collaborating with key stakeholders including the UN, INGOs, Red Cross Movement, donors and SEMA to strengthen flood preparedness mechanisms. NEMA has embarked on a nation-wide campaign to sensitize communities living along the flood plains to relocate to safe places in order to reduce their level of vulnerability and flood risk. NEMA has also reviewed the National Contingency Plan and is engaging in capacity-building activities with relevant stakeholders as part of its preparedness plans. In addition to raising awareness, NEMA has organized training programs to strengthen the capacity of government and humanitarian actors to better prepare and respond to the imminent flooding. On August, 38 officials of the SEMA and NEMA Zonal Coordination Office—all from flood-prone states across Nigeria -- were trained in Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM). The workshop was organized and co-facilitated by NEMA, UNHCR and IOM with the support of NCFR and Rhema Care. A series of trainings have been conducted to ensure that the CCCM trainings reach the sub-national level. Update on North East Nigeria 690 deaths in 35 attacks since the State of Emergency was imposed in Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa in May 2013 Violence and Instability continue in northeast Nigeria with more violent clashes between the religious sect Boko Haram and government troops and allies. Since last month’s publication of the Humanitarian Bulletin, the death toll has risen by 153 people killed in 7 attacks for a cumulative total of 690 deaths in 35 attacks since the State of Emergency was imposed in Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa in May 2013. 2 Since May 2013, UNHCR has tracked more than 17,0000 people (mainly women, children and the elderly) who have been internally displaced or fled across the borders into neighbouring Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. Humanitarian Issues Access in the northeast states continues to be limited; In addition to a lack of access, humanitarian actors have voiced additional concerns over (i) the erosion of household resilience given the protracted nature of the violence in the north with accordant disruptions to livelihoods, markets and access to foodstuffs; and (ii) the threat posed to humanitarian spaces, with reports circulating that insurgents in the northeast are fleeing to places of asylum or displacement. Advocacy Visit to Minister of Education Government to Restore Teacher and Student Confidence following Violent Attacks on Schools in Northeast According to UNICEF, since 16 June, a total of 48 students and seven teachers have reportedly been killed in four attacks in the region by the Islamic militants belonging to the Boko Haram group. This includes an attack on a boarding school in Yobe state where 29 students and one teacher were killed. With attacks on schools in north- east Nigeria on the rise and the subsequent loss of lives of students and faculty, the Education in Emergency Working Group (EiEWG) visited to the Hon. Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyat Rufa’I to discuss how to best approach the prevention of further attacks on schools and restore confidence among parents, students and teachers in the affected areas. The Minister promised to continue to support the activities of the group and made assurances that necessary mechanisms would be put in place, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders (including the security agencies) to ensure the safety of students and teachers especially in the northeast. 3 Over 3,000 Returnees from Bakassi Require Assistance Urgent Needs include Food, Healthcare, and Shelter. Over 3,000 returnees from the Bakassi Peninsular are currently displaced in Efut Obot Ikot village in Akaw Ibom State. On 7 March 2013, Cameroonian authorities officially took over the disputed area, leaving thousands displaced with little or no support from the government. In the past six months, these displaced people have been living in makeshift shelters, including in schools. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable, lacking adequate healthcare and protection. Over 1,800 children in the camp are out of school, and the existing primary school hosting pupils is not adequate to take-on more IDP children. Immediate need of the returnees include: healthcare, shelter and food. Furthermore, skills-training is also required in order to facilitate economic integration and livelihood support to these displaced populations. Joint Nigeria–EU Civil Protection Team Present Preliminary Conclusions to NEMA Capacity-building, scientific cooperation, and support to Information Manages, among Conclusions A European Union Civil Protection team undertook a mission to Abuja to advise the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on measures to prepare for and mitigate the impact of floods. The seven-person EU civil protection team presented its preliminary conclusions to NEMA management on 22 August following a 10-day assessment of the preparedness and the response capacities of the Nigerian disaster management system. Particular attention was paid to flood monitoring, detection and early warning, and emergency planning. Key preliminary recommendations include the need to strengthen disaster management capacity at state and local levels; enhanced scientific cooperation, with universities and/or exchange of experts; improved attempts to benefit from international initiatives such as WMO, HEPEX, Global Flood Working Group; and support to the development of information management. Lassa fever and cholera Update Federal & State Government and WHO Collaborate to Reduce Caseload WHO reported that from January to August 2013, a total of 1,111 suspected Lassa Fever cases, resulting in 33 deaths, were identified in 26 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 12 States; of this caseload, 154 cases of Lassa Fever were confirmed by laboratory tests. WHO has confirmed that 251 cholera cases were reported between January to August 2013 resulting in 19 deaths across 11 LGAs in six states. WHO called for continued reinforcement of active surveillance and public awareness on preventive measures in those areas affected by and/or vulnerable to Lassa Feve. The organization also calls for clinicians and laboratory scientists to be sensitized on standard precautionary practice and case definitions and for improved WASH services to control the spread of cholera. For further information, please contact: [email protected], [email protected] 4 .