Responding to Emergency Nutrition needs of IDPs in Bama and Monguno, Borno State, NE Nigeria Amidst continued conflict and displacement in northeastern Nigeria, displaced populations arriving from inaccessible areas to new arrival reception camps across the three BAY states of northeast Nigeria (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) have presented with particularity high prevalence of acute malnutrition). A SMART survey conducted in hard to reach areas in August 2018 indicated a very high prevalence of global acute malnutrition (GAM) among the new arrivals compared to those who have been living in camps: 37.5% in new arrival reception sites compared to 7.8% in camps.. The nutrition severity map based on WHO crisis classification on GAM shows critical levels of malnutrition-emergency (15-30%) in 23 local government areas (LGAs) in the three states amongst the new arrivals which include BAMA. These LGAs have an indicator 7 score which indicate emergency malnutrition levels. Moreover, routine monitoring of the prevalence of acute malnutrition though the nutrition and food security clusters’ surveillance findings indicate areas of central Borno (e.g. Konduga, Monguno and Jere) have a GAM prevalence rate of 14.9% and a (SAM) prevalence of 2.4% before the new influx of new arrivals in December and January 2019 which saw huge displacements of internally displaced persons (IDP) in Teachers Village Camp (TVC) and Mohamed Goni stadium where IRC is currently lead agency in health and nutrition services.  Evidence indicates that children with SAM are nine times more at risk to death compared to their peers.

Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators also remain poor in northeastern Nigeria. A Knowledge Attitude Practice (KAP) assessment conducted by IRC using OFDA funding shows IYCF indicators are some of the worst in the country, attributable to poor maternal knowledge and skills in young child feeding care.  

The nutrition sector has prioritized the appropriate screening of new arrivals and immediate provision of life saving nutrition stabilization center which will provide 24 hours in-patient service for SAM with medical complication. To address these needs, with NHF funds the IRC proposes the following set of activities that will be carried out in Bama and Monguno:

I.	Establish and strengthen the provision of a 24 hour IRC-run stabilization center (SC) for children under-5 in Bama LGA, including  incorporating an emergency-infant and young child feeding (e-IYCF) corner.
II.	Recruit and train (capacity building) medical staff to provide 24 hour inpatient care for appropriate management of malnutrition in adherence to national standards.
III.	Procure lifesaving medical supplies for the SC, such as stethoscopes, thermometers, anthropometric tools (weighing scales, height board), oxygen concentrator, and generator for lighting the SC 24/7.
IV.	Provide life-saving and life-sustaining humanitarian health assistance to affected IDPs, returnees and remaining population in Monguno. Through this project the IRC will provide quality integrated primary healthcare services, which will provide treatment and care to children under five with SAM at Fullatari IDP camp. The IRC will also strengthen the referral pathways and mechanisms to ensure that IDP have access to secondary facilities for cases of acute emergencies to ALIMA’s stabilization centre.