HUMANITARIAN CRISIS DEEPENS IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA: Over 268,000 IDPs in Dire Need of Assistance

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS DEEPENS IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA: Over 268,000 IDPs in Dire Need of Assistance

A devastating humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Southeast Nigeria, with over 268,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) struggling to survive in dire conditions. The IDPs are spread across 158 camps and affected communities in the states of Enugu, Imo, Abia, Anambra, and Ebonyi.

According to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the crisis is characterized by displacement, violence, and ecological challenges, including natural disasters like gully erosion that have destroyed homes and left many without shelter. Kalu made the revelation while speaking at a Roundtable Discussion with International non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in Abuja.

The situation in Southeast Nigeria is part of a larger humanitarian crisis affecting the country. Nigeria is facing multiple challenges, including insurgent attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State – West Africa Province in northeastern Nigeria, ‘banditry’ violence in the northwest, farmer/pastoralist conflict in the Middle Belt, and a growing Cameroonian refugee population in the south .

The humanitarian crisis in Nigeria has been exacerbated by climate change, which has resulted in land degradation and increased competition over scarce fertile land, contributing to farmer-pastoralist conflict. It has also amplified the intensity of natural disasters .

Kalu emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to provide immediate humanitarian relief and sustainable development solutions. He recognized the contributions of INGOs in addressing the challenges and pledged to champion legislative inputs that can be of paramount importance to the issues.

The Deputy Speaker identified several key areas that require urgent attention, including education, healthcare and nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), mental health support, gender-based violence, and shelter. He noted that many IDPs lack access to clean water, adequate shelter, healthcare, and education.

Kalu called for support from INGOs and government agencies to address the crisis. He emphasized the need for a collective response to the humanitarian crisis in Southeast Nigeria, noting that the situation requires immediate attention.

The international community must come together to address the humanitarian crisis in Southeast Nigeria. The situation requires immediate attention, and collective efforts are necessary to provide relief and sustainable solutions to the affected communities.

In response to the crisis, the Nigerian government has developed a Crisis Response Plan 2024-2025, which aims to support the transition towards comprehensive, evidence-based, longer-term solutions for displacement ². The plan seeks to deliver life-saving assistance while improving the resilience of the displaced population and local communities.