March 2017 – The conflict between Boko Haram and Nigerian armed forces has devastated communities in north-eastern Nigeria. As access for humanitarian workers to the region improved throughout 2016, the scope of the crisis became more apparent. Overall, the crisis is directly affecting more than 26 million people in Nigeria, of which it is estimated that 14 million will require humanitarian assistance in 2017. Assistance for basic survival and protection is vital for displaced populations, host communities and vulnerable people across the north-east. With GAC’s support, Mercy Corps is helping to assist up to 34,000 conflict-affected people in Borno state. Project activities include: (1) providing safe and equitable access to water, benefiting up to 10,000 people; (2) providing non-food items, such as blankets and mosquito nets, benefiting up to 1,000 households; (3) providing appropriate shelter to up to 1,000 households; (4) providing emergency cash grants to up to 1,000 households; (5) providing livelihood grants and training, benefiting up to 1,000 people; and (6) improving access to resources and information for members of vulnerable groups, especially women and girls.
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to appropriate sanitary facilities and hygiene practices; (2) improved access to essential emergency non-food items, such as blankets and mosquito nets; (3) improved access to safe, habitable and appropriate shelter; (4) increased capacity of vulnerable households to meet their basic needs; (5) improved capacity of beneficiaries to recover their independence; and (6) improved access to resources and information and reduced exposure to protection risks for members of excluded groups, especially women and girls. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved, suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.
