Nigeria: Responding to the needs of communities affected by conflict in 2017

The armed conflict in north-east Nigeria has had devastating humanitarian consequences for millions of people across the Lake Chad region. More than two million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes and left in desperate need of assistance.

In 2017, the ICRC provided aid relief, livelihood assistance and training, reaching over 1,152,000 people in the north-east and Middle Belt regions. Together with other Red Cross societies in the Lake Chad region, we searched for more than 13,200 people on behalf of their families.

In May, our teams facilitated the hand-over of 82 released "Chibok girls" upon the request of both the government of Nigeria and the armed group that held them, without taking part in negotiations that led to their release.

Highlights of our work in 2017

	450,000 people in the north-east and Middle Belt received food for three months or longer
	500,200 returnees and residents isolated in conflict areas received seeds, machinery and tools for farming
	130,500 people, including widows, received cash and basic training on small businesses
	More than 581,300 patients including 55,400 children attended 25 ICRC-supported primary health care centres and 4 mobile clinics
	17,300 casualties were treated and evacuated by the Nigerian Red Cross Society first aid teams
	Over 860,000 displaced persons, returnees, and residents gained access to clean water