The unsustainability of humanitarian aid in internally displaced people (IDP) camps in Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Nigerian state is expected to perform functions critical to the protection of citizens against disasters and harmful emergency situations through effective management of humanitarian aid. However, the reality in Nigeria shows that the government is only interested in the relocation of internally displaced people (IDP) rather than their daily survival in humanitarian camps. In addressing this problem, this article examined the indicators, reasons, and implications of the unsustainability of humanitarian aid. It is believed that research in this direction would provide an understanding of a better approach to improving the sustainability of humanitarian aid. Drawing on the state fragility theory and mixed qualitative methods involving observations, interviews, and document analysis, the findings identified a lack of capacity to control violence causing displacement, weak institutional support, political will, and capacity to finance humanitarian aid as reasons why humanitarian aid is unsustainable in IDP camps in Nigeria. It also identified the depletion of host communities’ resources, untimely deaths, harmful coping strategies, and an increased rate of out-of-school children, among others, as the implications of unsustainable humanitarian aid. The findings suggest means through which the Nigerian government can sustain humanitarian aid in IDP camps in Nigeria.