Context

Fourteen years after the start of the conflict in the North-East of the country, Nigeria is experiencing devastating humanitarian consequences in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. More than 7.9 million people face significant protection challenges and ongoing threats to their safety and wellbeing. Borno is the most affected state, with more than half of the population – 3.9 million people – classified as people in need. Non-state armed groups are increasingly targeting civilians, particularly in Borno. Women and children, especially girls, remain the most affected, accounting for 83% of those in need. 

By the end of 2023, about 1 million children under 5 were identified as suffering from severe acute malnutrition, with a significant number of health facilities damaged in the armed conflict.

INTERSOS’ intervention

In 2023, INTERSOS supported 1,378 survivors of gender-based violence. We provided individual psycho-social support, group counselling, art therapy, recreational activities, and skills acquisition to vulnerable people. We also distributed dignity kits to women and girls. We carried out community-based protection activities, including the installation of 64 solar-powered lights in strategic facilities in camps, reception centres, and host communities.

INTERSOS also provided life-saving health and nutrition services. We provided antenatal consultations and assisted in 1,692 deliveries at basic emergency obstetric and neonatal care centres. Additionally, we fully vaccinated 255,071 people against COVID-19. INTERSOS supported twelve Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) sites and three Stabilisation Centres for malnutrition, where 75,564 children were screened for Severe Acute Malnutrition.

INTERSOS staff also implemented Food Assistance activities, such as cash transfers and in-kind food distributions, as well as supplementary feeding programmes for children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition and pregnant and lactating women. 

Our staff conducted camp coordination camp management activities reaching over 367,513 people. 

In the WASH sector, INTERSOS worked to provide access to clean and safe water as well as improved sanitation services for vulnerable people. 

We supported flood-affected people through the by distributing hygiene kits, dignity kits, shelter kits and  cash assistance in Ngala, Monguno and Dikwa in Borno State. We also set up hygiene clubs, training 60 students  in good hygiene practices and empowering them to be agents of change in their schools and communities. Finally, we supported ten health centres through the construction and maintenance of water points and ten communities in Dikwa and Ngala through the rehabilitation of twenty hand pumps and ten solar-powered boreholes.