7.1 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Nigeria

7.1 million people are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance in northern Nigeria.  In Nigeria, over 80 percent of IDPs are in Borno State, the epicenter of the crisis, and over 60 percent are living in host communities. Four in every five IDPs are women and children, and one in four of the IDPs are under five years of age.

With such a large population already food insecure, with high rates of malnutrition, and poor access to WASH and health services, there is growing concern within the humanitarian community about the growing risk of a cholera outbreak. Preventative activities are beginning, including the identification and training of community health volunteers, commencement of awareness-raising campaigns on cholera preventive measures, disinfection of accessible WASH facilities, distribution of hygiene kits and oral rehydration salts to high-risk households.

Access remains to be a consistent challenge in northern Nigeria. Persistent attacks in the northeast continue to lead to displacement and food insecurity. Recurring attacks by insurgents continue to negatively impact farming, trade, and other livelihood activities and limiting basic services. In the northeast, livelihoods for most households will remain heavily disrupted by insecurity. Agricultural and other income-earning opportunities remain restricted due to the direct impacts of the conflict and by the high levels of displacement.  There were 111 security incidents recorded in August and 99 recorded security incidents in July.

Positively, the planting season is progressing with favorable rainfall in most of the country and increased funding for agricultural activities and technical support from the Government. Harvests are expected to be above average, except in the conflict affected areas of the northeast. Most households are largely relying on market purchases as household food stocks are normally depleted at the peak of the lean season in August. Food prices remain stable compared to last month and markets are well supplied with food to meet the growing lean season demand.  Notwithstanding this, households remain highly dependent on humanitarian assistance to meet their basic food needs, particularly the IDPs in Maiduguri area where they are most accessible to humanitarian actors and are expected to continue facing Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes throughout September.