Nigeria - As part of its overall support to families displaced by violence in Northern Nigeria, in partnership with the government and other agencies on the ground, IOM relocated 189 families from a school to Bakasi camp.  Each family was provided with a newly built shelter by IOM along with a non-food item (NFI) package. 

This voluntary relocation is part of a government-led drive to vacate schools where internally displaced persons (IDPs) were initially settled in order to be able to reopen them for classes in April.

Richard Danziger, the IOM Regional Director for West and Central Africa (WCA) who is on an official visit reassured the IDPs of IOM’s commitment to providing shelter and NFIs to alleviate their plight. He stated that “providing assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North-eastern part of Nigeria is imperative as a first step toward long-term stability in Northern Nigeria and the entire Lake Chad sub region.”

Justus Zare, Permanent Secretary to Borno State Ministry of Education who is also the secretary to the Relocation Committee explained that efforts are being made to improve the situation of the camp. He said “shelters are being provided, drilling for water is completed, solar panels are installed and we are happy with IOM and other partners for assisting us.”

IOM is also conducting baseline assessments and registration for IDPs living in camps and host communities under the Displacement Tracking Matrix project. In addition, psychosocial services are provided to the IDPs and referrals are made for appropriate treatment where applicable.

Two years ago many displaced people were housed and shielded in school facilities when schools were shut down due to Boko Haram offensive. Surviving family members were scattered across various schools used as temporary camps in the state. With the relocation and provision of shelters by IOM many families are now reunited.

The humanitarian crisis in Northern Nigeria continues and yet the aid community is facing significant funding gaps to sustain interventions. IOM is appealing for USD 15 million for continued shelter support, displacement tracking and biometric registration, camp management and camp coordination (CCCM) and psycho-social support.

For more information, please contact: Ikechukwu Hillarion Attah, IOM Abuja. Tel: Office: +234 (0) 8140671127; Mobile: +234 (0) 8036452973. Email: iattah@iom.int or Enira  Krdzalic, Tel: + 0093794100526  Email: krdzalic@iom.int