IR-EMOP Life-saving support to highly food insecure young children affected by conflict and insecurity in North-Eastern Nigeria

The Boko Haram-related conflict in North East Nigeria has caused large displacements both within Nigeria and to neighboring countries. According to IOM, there are 2.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria. The majority of the IDPs are located in Borno State (1.5 million)1 and located in host communities of Maiduguri MC and Jere LGA.

The conflict and related displacements in the North-East Nigeria continues to negatively affect livelihood activities and inhibits many people from rebuilding their livelihoods. Affected households have had consecutive years of substantially belowaverage harvests, restricted income levels, destruction of assets and livelihoods and reduced food access. This has left the population in the affected states with small or non-existent stocks for the upcoming lean season. Most displaced households are unable to cultivate for a third consecutive agricultural season due to limited land access.

The findings of the joint UN rapid food security assessment are alarming and report a grave food insecurity situation. As there are already signs of extreme stress within the vulnerable population groups and the lean season is fast approaching, immediate lifesaving assistance targeting young children needs to be promptly provided. It is critical to address the immediate nutritional needs of children 6-23 months, many of them already malnourished, requiring energy/nutrients dense foods. To this end and considering the emergency ontext (poor water and sanitation conditions, inadequate health facilities, markets limitations, and unavailability of locally produced ready to use foods for young children) age-adequate ready to use supplementary food needs to be urgently airlifted from the most cost-effective location and transported to

Maiduguri (capital of Borno State).

• Duration of assistance:Two months food distribution (May- June 2016). In parallel WFP will look for options to procure locally available foods in Nigeria to continue the distribution afterwards.
• Number of beneficiaries: 54,000 children 6-23 months