A medical doctor, Dr Ayoade Olatunbosun-Alakija, is a humanitarian whose life has largely been dedicated to transforming lives and bringing social justice to those suffering in Haiti, Rwanda and other nations in crisis. Now, she is home to assist her fellow Nigerians in the Northeast. Her work with the Inter Ministerial Task Force of Nigeria chaired by Minister of State, Budget and National Planning Mrs Zainab Ahmed includes acting as interlocutor with international partners including donors, UN/INGOs and puts her in position to assess and evaluate firsthand the humanitarian crisis. She discusses a befitting response plan for the region and how they took to feeding of over a million people last month alone.
What have been the main benefits of establishing the 24/7 Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) which you lead?
There was an identified gap in information sharing, coordination, both between and within sectors, necessary to facilitate an immediate scale up of the humanitarian response to save lives. The ECC is a living breathing space, some describe it as a ‘war room’ with data, maps and information all over walls and windows, constantly changing almost daily as the situation evolves. We have maps from live google images telling us about the displacement of peoples, on a week to week basis. There is a live video link up with offices in the field, especially in Maiduguri. It has enabled trouble shooting at 1am in the morning, when aid convoys have been under fire from insurgents and other emergency situations, it means that we get very little sleep but it truly has been the critical enabler of our Nigerian response.
It was early in October, within a 72-hour time frame that we established and operationalized a 24-hour Emergency Coordination Center which is supported by USAID/OFDA. This information-sharing and collaborative space was essential as it has allowed over 2000 humanitarian stakeholders to meet and work towards concerted and rapid solutions to the crises in the northeast.
The ECC team facilitated the Humanitarian Needs Overview/Humanitarian Response Plan for Nigeria within this unit. This HRP was recently launched at the UN headquarters in Geneva. The HNO/HRP process has set the foundation for both Nigerian and humanitarian actors with regards to scaling up of life saving activities. On the global scene, it is currently being described as international best practice, we have somehow managed to find the opportunity for Nigeria to excel within a crisis.
What would you say is the main focus of the planned humanitarian interventions for 2017?
The three states that have been determined to be in greatest need are what are referred to as the BAY states (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe). This determination has been done on basis of statistics and evidence based needs assessments. Whilst the other three states of the Northeast are affected, the need is not as urgent and as critical as the BAY states. Therefore, the main focus in the immediate term is on those who need urgent intervention. We have facilitated a process whereby the international humanitarian actors have already activated implementation in these states. For instance, 8.5 million people have been calculated to be in need of immediate food assistance in those states, and the international community have committed to meet 100% of that need in 2017. Health needs are to be about 55% met by international partners with the remaining portion to be addressed through the mobilisation of domestic resources, both within specific MDA budgetary allocations and State level interventions.
The other states will of course continue to receive the necessary attention and interventions that they require and the nexus between humanitarian action and development activity becomes particularly critical within these communities. We must do both together in coordination and cohesion. It is not either/or, it is both.
What has been the response from Nigerians so far in assisting with the crisis?
That is an interesting question, there have been shining examples of patriotism and private partnership from a few, an example being Sahara Energy, who provided aviation fuel within 72 hours to Maiduguri in an emergency to enable us resume humanitarian flights which had hitherto been grounded due to scarcity, but overall we need greater involvement of Nigerians from all sectors. The Humanitarian crisis is a collective responsibility for us all, there is no Northeast or Southwest, or Southsouth divide when it comes to a national crisis. There are just Nigerians and one Nigeria, and all of us as Nigerians are morally obligated to do what we can to help. Just as when our military are posted to fight in Sambisa Forest, nobody checks their ethnicity, or their creed. So also, it is for humanitarians who are putting their lives on the line, and making huge sacrifices to restore life and dignity to millions.
When I worked in Haiti during their humanitarian crisis, nobody ever asked me where I was from, or why I was helping. They just assumed that it was a shared humanity that had brought me to help my fellow man. This common humanity is what has been displayed by communities across the Northeast, as they have welcomed strangers into their homes, and it is this humanity that the rest of us as a nation need to learn and embrace. Charity begins at home, and we cannot ask the global humanitarian community to help if we are not willing ourselves to step out of our comfort zones and assist fellow Nigerians.
Early in December, you were in Bama, Gwoza, and Maiduguri alongside global humanitarian directors from the United Nations, what was your mission in the northeast, and what has changed since their visit to Nigeria?
I visited Gwoza and Bama to see first-hand conditions and participate in distribution of specialized foods for malnourished children. My previous experience deep field in Borno was to Dikwa as the humanitarian crises was emerging. That was an extremely depressing visit, as the scale of the problem seemed nearly insurmountable in May 2016, approximately 75, 000 people in one camp (more of an open field) recently liberated from Boko Haram with very little shelter, limited access to food or water within challenging security conditions, it was heartbreaking but also motivated one to greater action.
Therefore, this recent trip to Gwoza and Bama for myself and the team demonstrated hope and showed how quickly things can be turned around given high level political will and commitment as has been shown within that state, at federal level, and by international humanitarian actors. The scale of reconstruction efforts alone is astounding, the Emir’s palace has been restored to its former glory or better. Governor Shettima and his team have done an incredible job on the ground.
On the International side, significant scale up in humanitarian aid delivery has been achieved since the ED mission. As directors returned to Rome, New York, and Geneva, to mobilise greater support, and as requested by the Nigerian government, to send us their A-teams. The proof of the pudding it is said is in the eating and we are literally and metaphorically seeing the manifestation of this effort. The 1.01 million people fed in December alone can be attributed to the fruit of this mission.
What is the current humanitarian situation in the Northeast, Borno State in particular, given the fact it is the epicenter crisis?
The current humanitarian situation in Nigeria is complex, and in sheer numbers is comparable to those in need in Syria, but we have received far less global attention and even less funding support. The recent coordination mechanisms put in place have ensured now that the voices of our children and our people are being heard on an international stage, because social justice for one is social justice for all.
We recently saw the arrival of 3 A330 cargo planes direct into Maiduguri airport, carrying over a 100 metric tons of humanitarian relief, containing humanitarian hubs from Sweden, which will be stationed in strategic places in the Northeast to facilitate more efficient delivery of relief materials to millions of affected individuals.
We have data that supports the fact that in the 6 Northeast states, there are currently 14 million people in need of assistance due to this crisis. Of those, over 70% are women and children. Of that number, approximately 2.5 million are IDP’s. So you will see that this is not just an IDP crisis, but a wider humanitarian crisis.
With specific examples, how would you enumerate the humanitarian response from the Federal Government and International partners in 2016, bearing in mind, your coordinating role?
In the last three months since the establishment of the ECC we have seen significant progress, an over fivefold increase in numbers of people reached, with food and medical interventions. A rapid response mechanism (RRM) has been set up, with multi agency partnerships taking food, medicines and planned agricultural interventions to communities at the same time. There is innovation, but most of all there is great compassion and a speedy response has been deployed.
We have been able to bring in 3 cargo planes of humanitarian relief directly into Maiduguri for immediate deployment into the field. Food distribution has gone up from 165,000 when we began this project in September, to 1.01 million in December, with a projected 1.8 million for the month of January. It has been noted internationally that there has never been a scale up of this magnitude achieved within such a short time frame.
Yes, we were all slow in coming to the table, but now that we’re here, we are confident that this humanitarian crisis can be arrested, and prevented from becoming a chronic humanitarian crisis. We have developed a humanitarian response plan for Nigeria, both for the international community and a mirror image plan has been created for Nigeria.
Give us a quick round up of the humanitarian crisis in 2016 ensuing from Boko Haram in the last few years, what do you think are the challenges experienced and the lessons learnt?
There is no such thing as a quick round up of the humanitarian crisis, there is no way to describe the suffering entire communities and states have had to endure. The crisis first became apparent as the Nigerian army made significant inroads into previous held Boko Haram territory and with the liberation of 16 LGAs, revealing hundreds of thousands of people who had previously been inaccessible to both the Nigerian government and international humanitarian actors. Initially this was seen as an IDP crisis, but we do not have an IDP crisis we have a humanitarian crisis that spans all aspects of life. Of 14 million people calculated to need humanitarian aid, only about 2.5 million are IDPs.
What is your take on the allegations that humanitarian partners and UN agencies, have either been misapplying resources meant for humanitarian response and are more interested in their welfare in terms of buying Armoured Vehicles (AVs) and renting houses at exorbitant costs in Maiduguri?
Those allegations stem from a place of misunderstanding and miscommunication. With regards to the issue of exorbitant rents, it really is simple economics and down to supply and demand. If there is anyone who is benefitting from that it would be we as Nigerians, who are charging said exorbitant rents on a limited supply of housing. Therefore, you could say the economy is being boosted.
It is important to understand that ultimately Nigeria benefits, as resources brought in on humanitarian’s missions are not permitted to be removed from the country. In the short term, there are certain international safety rules and regulations that agencies must comply with in order to deliver aid and provide assistance when needed.
Without complying with these basic international standards, they will be unable to operate in Nigeria. In addition, we do not want a situation, where aid workers are being attacked or killed within our territory so it is in all our interests that they are protected, by whatever means necessary. The current reality is that from the 1st to the 30th of December, approximately 1.01 million people have been provided with food rations in Borno and Yobe states. It is the ability to travel in helicopters and AV’s and to be based in properties no matter how expensive within Maiduguri that has enabled this scale up. I guess you would call it the cost of doing business.
You monitor humanitarian interventions in the Northeast; what is your reaction to allegations of gross diversion of foods meant for IDPs by officials at the federal and state levels?
I’m not really qualified to speak to allegations of diversions of food, but it is important to note that that is what they are, allegations. What I do know is that there has been a concerted effort by the Borno State governor to ensure that his people are fed, and that gaps in food pipeline are identified and closed. I personally joined him and his SEMA team in distributing food to those in some of the most remote and difficult to reach areas of the state. Part of my current role is ensuring a coordinated response between Federal and State levels, working from a 37,000-foot perspective, and looking holistically at issues of bottlenecks and process delays, which are some of the things that have resulted in perceived diversions.
