Saleh stands in line for his monthly food basket, battling the harmattan season of dust and dry heat. He has a family of 12 to feed and food assistance is critical.
“I used to be a pastoral and grain farmer, I had land in Gwoza. The violence changed everything,” he says.
“They burnt our huts”
In 2014, Gwoza fell under Boko Haram control for almost a year. Saleh fled with his family to Maiduguri, 135 km from his hometown, to escape the violence that caused many people to go missing or lose their lives.
“They burnt our huts, our land is gone. I have nothing left,” says Saleh.
In addition to food assistance, Saleh receives business skills training and financial support through the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) food security and livelihoods programme. Now, Saleh is looking to grow tomatoes to sell on the market in order to make a living and provide for his family.
“I am a farmer, farming is what I know. I do not have enough land or means for pastoral farming anymore, but I can grow tomatoes. I have to try my best for my family,” he says.
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No money, no food
At a different distribution point, Aisha and her daughter, Maryam, patiently wait for their monthly food assistance, which feeds a family of ten.
“With a big family, we need assistance. It is difficult to find work so there is not enough money to feed all of us.”
Aisha’s response hints at the current inflation that is affecting the prices of staple foods across northeastern Nigeria, and has pushed prices to an all-time high. NRC provides food assistance through e-vouchers, which are designed to protect beneficiaries from inflation through negotiation of fixed prices between vendors and NRC in advance of distribution.
Acute need for food
Food assistance has become a crucial lifeline for many Nigerians who have been affected by the insurgency. Despite functional markets, access to food remains problematic due to high cost of food items caused by the inflation. The UN food and agriculture organisation (FAO) reported that at least 5.1 million people face acute food insecurity in the northeastern states. The current food security situation is reaching alarming levels with potentially catastrophic consequences if left without a coordinated, strong response from humanitarian actors.
The lack of access to food compounds an already critical humanitarian situation, which renders an estimated 14 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The current conflict with Boko Haram, which is about to enter its eight year, has no end in sight, and many affected Nigerians can only hope that their much needed assistance arrives on time.
NRC would like to thank the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their generous contribution to the Food Security and Livelihoods programme in Maiduguri.
