Annual Report FY21: Integrated Emergency Response for Crisis-Affected Persons in Northeast Nigeria

The protracted insurgency in the region resulted in 8.7 million people requiring humanitarian assistance, with the majority living in Borno State. Women and girls accounted for 20% of those affected, while 58% were children in need of protection services. High rates of malnutrition remained a significant health concern, with 1.9 million people internally displaced in Borno, accounting for over 80% of the total number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The IRC continued to provide essential services to IDPs and host communities across the three BAY states, including life-saving primary health care in nineteen health clinics. Services included Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), treatment and surveillance of communicable and non-communicable diseases, referral system strengthening, capacity building for staff, protection mainstreaming, and Health education and promotion. A total of 77,736 beneficiaries were reached through OPD consultations, representing 90.5% of the targeted 86,380 beneficiaries. This discrepancy was largely attributed to an increase in beneficiaries seeking health care services at IRC clinics and supported health facilities due to the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) strike and the exit of MSF Spain and ALIMA from Gwoza and Monguno. The IRC Protection and Rule of Law (ProL) sector ensured gender equity and protection mainstreaming across all services delivered at health facilities and community-based activities. The sector team increased the number of mobile desks available across all program sites to better respond to protection concerns in host communities. Through collaboration with local partners, other INGOs, and government agencies, the ProL Team reached 5,266 beneficiaries, including 150 People With Disabilities (PWDs) and 2,822 IDPs, supporting them with access to justice following violations of fundamental human rights and civil identity documents. Awareness and dialogue sessions, services such as information centers, legal counseling, case management, referrals, protection mainstreaming trainings for staff, community volunteers, and government partners were conducted across the BAY States. The IRC implemented WASH services across all three states, increasing access to safe water and sanitation facilities, while improving the health environment and hygiene awareness of vulnerable communities and IDPs in targeted camps. To date, the project has reached a total of 66,775 beneficiaries with WASH services, including 31,234 IDPs. The IRC also supported the response to the cholera outbreak across the BAY States by providing essential drugs and IPC supplies, and building the capacity of local health workers. The IRC was able to meet the significant, increasing demand for health care services in the region, including the treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases and SRH care, and made progress towards meeting all targeted outputs. The IRC's integrated emergency response in Northeast Nigeria continued to address the humanitarian needs of crisis-affected persons in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, with a focus on providing essential services, protection, and WASH services to IDPs and host communities. The IRC's Protection and Rule of Law sector continued to ensure gender equity and protection mainstreaming across all services delivered at health facilities and community-based activities. The sector team increased the number of mobile desks available across all program sites to better respond to protection concerns in host communities. The IRC also supported the response to the cholera outbreak across the BAY States by providing essential drugs and IPC supplies, and building the capacity of local health workers. The IRC's WASH services continued to increase access to safe water and sanitation facilities, while improving the health environment and hygiene awareness of vulnerable communities and IDPs in targeted camps. To date, the project has reached a total of 66,775 beneficiaries with WASH services, including 31,234 IDPs. The IRC's integrated emergency response in Northeast Nigeria continued to address the humanitarian needs of crisis-affected persons in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, with a focus on providing essential services, protection, and WASH services to IDPs and host communities. The IRC's overall performance in 2021 was marked by the continued delivery of essential services to IDPs and host communities across the three BAY states. The IRC's integrated emergency response in Northeast Nigeria continued to address the humanitarian needs of crisis-affected persons in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, with a focus on providing essential services, protection, and WASH services to IDPs and host communities.