The escalating insecurity in northwest Nigeria due to conflicts between armed groups continues to have severe humanitarian consequences, worsening an already dire situation.
Development Diaries reports that throughout March and April, armed attacks in Zamfara and Sokoto States have resulted in the displacement of at least 10,000 people and at least 92 deaths, according to the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
Findings from the IRC reveal that, as a result of these attacks and consequent displacement, many people are residing in open spaces with minimal belongings and without basic necessities.
It is more concerning because more than half of the people affected by these attacks are women, which leaves them at risk of exploitation and abuse.
Women and children bear the brunt of this violence, facing displacement, loss of livelihoods, and limited access to essential services like health care and education.
Displacement camps are overcrowded, lacking basic necessities, and often unable to provide adequate protection from further harm.
The continuous cycle of violence has resulted in a growing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs), stretching humanitarian resources and leaving many vulnerable populations neglected.
To address these populations’ basic needs, which are water and sanitation, health care, and protective services, urgent humanitarian help is required.
The humanitarian impact of increasing insecurity in northwest Nigeria demands urgent attention and concerted efforts from both national and international actors to alleviate the suffering of those affected and to address the root causes of the conflict.
Development Diaries calls on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to prioritize the protection of vulnerable and displaced Nigerians in the area.
Source: IRC
Photo source: Relief web
