At least 1,385,298 million persons have so far been displaced as a result of insurgency and communal clashes in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa Gombe and Taraba according to June 2015 Displacement Tracking Matrix released by International Organisation for Migration in conjunction with National Emergency Management Agency.
The report revealed that Borno state has the highest number of IDPs with (1,002,688) followed by Yobe (125,484) and Adamawa (113,437). Bauchi has (76,504), Gombe (16,984) and Taraba (20,501).
The report indicated that there was slight decrease in the number of IDPs compared to the last report released in April 2015 due to movements of return observed on the ground, most especially in Adamawa State where the IDP population has decreased. In contrast, in Borno state the IDP population has increased since April 2015 and has reaching over a million.
According to the report, 92% of IDPs live with host communities while 8% live in camps or camp-like sites. The survey further shows that 52% of the IDP populations are female and 48% are male. Children of less than 18 constitute 56% of the IDP population and more than half of them are 5 years old or younger.
The report highlighted that, 95% of the displacement was due to the insurgency while 5% as smaller number was forced to leave their place of origin because of communal clashes.
Regarding needs and assistance-received assessment, majority of the internally displaced persons mentioned food as their primary need while others mentioned shelter and employment. However majority declared that they have either received food and Non-food items or shelter assistance and small numbers have also indicated they have never received.
Vast majority expressed desire to return to their places of origin but security was the main condition and improvement of economic condition of their areas.
The Displacement Tracking Matrix program is being carried out to support the Nigerian Authorities and the humanitarian partners on the ground to undertake IDP assessments in a unified and systematized manner with the objective of establishing a comprehensive profile of the IDP population and advising the humanitarian response.
The DTM activities are being implemented according to the methodology endorsed by stakeholders, the teams composed of members of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross Society and International Organisation for Migration. Humanitarian partners on the field are also participating in the assessment on an ad hoc basis. The project is funded by the Office of Disaster Assistance of the United States Agency for International Development and the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department.
Sani Datti
Snr. Information Officer
