Today, Fatima Abubakar and her children finally have something they had been seeking for many months: a safe place to call home.
A fresh start in a safe home
With support from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF), Fatima received ₦150,000 (about US$107) through individual protection assistance from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). The support allowed her to secure accommodation and pay two years' rent in advance, giving her family the stability they desperately needed after months of uncertainty and repeated displacement.
"I am grateful for the support. I do not know how things would have turned out without it. At least now, my children and I have a safe place to stay, and I can work to provide for them," she says.
A search for safety
When severe flooding displaced her family from their home in Maiduguri, north-east Nigeria, in September 2024, they lost both their house and belongings. With nowhere to return to, the family travelled to neighbouring Yobe State in search of safety and temporary accommodation.
What followed was a cycle of temporary shelter and repeated eviction. After spending days in overcrowded and unsuitable accommodation, Fatima and her children were repeatedly forced to move. One host asked them to leave, another property was sold while they were living there, and an alternative location was considered too unsafe because of the presence of snakes. Eventually, the family found themselves sheltering in an unfinished building, exposed to harsh conditions and unsure where they would sleep next.
"I became confused and did not know where to go with my children," Fatima recalls.
A path to stability
The turning point came when one of her children fell ill. While returning from treatment at a local clinic, Fatima noticed a humanitarian help desk and decided to share the challenges her family was facing.
After an assessment of her situation, NRC identified an immediate protection risk linked to the family's repeated displacement and lack of safe accommodation. Through support from the NHF, Fatima received assistance that enabled her to secure stable housing and reduce the risk of homelessness and other protection concerns.
Today, that stability is allowing her to look beyond daily survival. Fatima has started making and selling bean cakes to contribute to her family's income and support her children.
Her story highlights how timely, targeted protection assistance can help families facing imminent risks to regain safety, stability, and dignity.
For Fatima, the greatest joy is knowing that when night comes, her children have a safe place to sleep.
