In a move to assess the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, a high-level United Nations delegation will visit Nigeria from 20 to 22 October to evaluate and showcase the country’s ongoing efforts on IDPs.
The delegation will be led by Ms Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director General of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The others are Mr Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Ms Shoko Noda, Director of the Crisis Bureau at the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
According to Mr Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, “the mission will engage with senior government officials, development partners and UN personnel operating in affected communities.”
As of July 2024, Nigeria has hosted up to 3.5 million IDPs largely due to environmental shocks such as flooding.
The North-East region has sheltered more than 2.1 million displaced persons.
The visit by the UN delegation is expected to reinforce international support for Nigeria’s transition from emergency relief to long-term recovery, stabilisation and reintegration of displaced populations.
The visit will also showcase Nigeria’s progress in managing internal displacement and resettlement.
It will promote best practices that could serve as models for other displacement-affected countries.
The visit will also strengthen collaboration among humanitarian and development actors. It will also mobilise increased international support and financing for long-term, development-focused interventions.