Majority of the 1.8 million internally displaced persons in Borno
State said they are still scared of going back to their communities
months after the military liberated them from Boko Haram control, a new
study by the Norwegian Refugee Council, NRC, reveals.
Tagged “Too Scared to Return”, the report says its findings “are undisputable”.
“When 86 per cent of people tell us they aren’t ready to go home yet,
we must listen. This cannot fall on deaf ears,” warned Jan Egeland, NRC
Secretary General, who is currently visiting Nigeria.
“People must decide to return of their own free will. Coercing
communities to move home is a deadly recipe set to worsen the conflict.”
The report comes at a time when about a dozen persons from Bama Local
Government Area, one of the largest communities displaced by Boko
Haram, are being held in prison custody as they face trial for leading
IDPs to stage a street protest asking government to allow them return
home.
The NRC said it sought the opinion of 27,000 people in the research
which it said was one of “the largest pieces of research carried out on
the displaced population.”
Mr. Egeland said “60 per cent of people who are unwilling to return
home in the immediate future cite insecurity as the main reason for
staying put. Attacks against civilians are on the rise, and communities
feel scared.”
“The Nigerian military recently gained ground in the fight against the
Islamic extremist group Boko Haram. In response, the armed group has
stepped up attacks on soft targets, including markets and sites
sheltering displaced people.”
The report noted that many officials in Nigeria’s government are keen to see communities move back home.
“While the end game is for communities to return home, the
unfortunate truth is that pushing people back now will have harmful
consequences,” said Mr. Egeland.
“An overwhelming 85 per cent of people living in formal camps tell us
they feel safer there than where they were before, despite the
deplorable attacks on camps.”
“Today I met a woman in Monguno town who fled her village two years
ago after Boko Haram set it ablaze. She’s eager to bring her six
children home, but she told me it’s too soon, that the armed group are
still present.”
The report based on research largely carried out in September this
year also stated that some of the IDPs would still insist on remaining
in the city even if the Boko Haram insurgents are totally wiped out.
“Even if the security situation improves, half the displaced people
interviewed say their houses were destroyed in the conflict,” the report
said.
“About 48 per cent of people interviewed do not have information
about the current state of their homes, indicating that this figure
could be much higher,” added Mr. Egeland.
The report recommends measures needed before Nigeria’s displaced can return home.
“Firstly, the overall security situation must improve so communities
feel safe. In addition, resources must be channelled into rebuilding
homes and re-establishing livelihoods. It is important that displaced
communities are involved in developing these programmes.
“People need a roof over their heads and the prospect of making a
living, if they are to have any chance of rebuilding their lives,” said
Mr. Egeland.
“We are ready to work with the government to help displaced
Nigerian’s return home. But movements must be voluntary, safe and
informed.”
The Boko Haram insurgency, according to a recent situation report by
the NRC, has left “8.5 million people (in) need (of) humanitarian
assistance in Nigeria. About 80 per cent of the internally displaced are
in Borno State, with over half living outside of camps in local
communities. Some 220,000 people have fled to Cameroon, Niger and Chad;
while 5.2 million people are food insecure in northeast Nigeria. An
estimated 450,000 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition;
while 20,000 people have been killed since the start of the conflict 8
years ago. Over 4,100 cases of suspected cholera and 56 deaths have been
reported.”
The report says at least 57 per cent of schools in Borno State are still closed due to conflict.
The challenges of managing the humanitarian conflict is still
enormous because the $1 billion 2017 global aid appeal for Nigeria is
only funded by 64 per cent.
The ‘Too Scared to Return’ report was written in collaboration with the
REACH Initiative, the Danish Refugee Council and the protection sector
in Nigeria.