Project profile — Nigeria Crisis – Emergency Assistance – International Rescue Committee 2022

February 2022 - Twelve years of conflict between Islamist insurgents and government forces in northeastern Nigeria have left the region facing a desperate humanitarian crisis, characterized by mass population displacement and severe human rights abuses, including abductions, killings, and sexual violence. Destruction of infrastructure has left most of the population without access to safe water, sanitation or health care. Widespread food insecurity, worsened by the ongoing impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, has left the region on the brink of famine. Across the three conflict-affected states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, an estimated 8.3 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2022. With GAC’s support, the International Rescue Committee is improving access to health care, including therapeutic treatment for acute malnutrition, safe water and sanitation, and protection services for up 56,869 conflict-affected internally displaced persons and host communities in Nigeria’s Borno state. Project activities include: (1) providing primary health care services and training support for local health facilities; (2) identifying and treating acute malnutrition; (3) rehabilitating or establishing water points and sanitation facilities in targeted communities; and (4) providing gender-based violence services to at-risk women and children.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to quality primary health care services; (2) improved access to prevention, detection and treatment of acute malnutrition services; (3) reduced risk of water, sanitation and hygiene-related diseases; and (4) mainstreamed protection and gender-sensitivity throughout interventions. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved, suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.

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