Multi-Sectoral Rapid Needs and Markets Assessment NORTHEASTNIGERIAEMERGENCYMAY2017

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TableofContentsEXECUTIVESUMMARY....................................................................................................................3

BACKGROUND...............................................................................................................................4

METHODOLOGY.............................................................................................................................4

FINDINGS.......................................................................................................................................5

Shelter...................................................................................................................................................5

Water.....................................................................................................................................................6

Sanitation...............................................................................................................................................7

Hygiene..................................................................................................................................................7

Health....................................................................................................................................................7

Malnutrition..........................................................................................................................................8

Foodsecurity..........................................................................................................................................8

Markets..................................................................................................................................................9

Livelihoods.............................................................................................................................................9

Agriculture.............................................................................................................................................9

AgriculturalInputs...............................................................................................................................10

Needsandpriorities.............................................................................................................................11

Populationmovements.......................................................................................................................11

Existingsupport...................................................................................................................................11

CONCLUSIONS..............................................................................................................................11

Contact:ErikHeinonen,EmergencyProgramManager,CRSNigeria,erik.heinonen@crs.org

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EXECUTIVESUMMARYInMay2013,theGovernmentofNigeriadeclaredaStateofEmergencyinthenortheasternstatesofYobe,BornoandAdamawainresponsetotheongoingBokoHaraminsurgency.OverhalfadecadeofconflictacrossNortheastNigeriahasledtowidespreadviolence,massdisplacement,marketandagriculturalinterruptions,adeclineorhaltinpublicservices,anddestructionofinfrastructure,propertyandlivelihoods.DespiteadvancesbyNigerianmilitarytosecureformerBokoHaram-controlledterritory,humanitarianneedsremainextremelyhighfordisplacedandotherconflict-affectedpopulations,asinsecurityandotherconstraintshavelimitedhumanitarianaccessformanylocations.BornoStatehasexperiencedthelargestdisplacementasaresultoftheBokoHaramcrisis,currentlyhosting1.4millioninternallydisplacedpeople(IDPs),withanadditional200,000BornoresidentsdisplacedintoneighboringNigerianstatesandothercountries.1

SinceSeptember2016,CatholicReliefServices(CRS)hasprovidedcriticalfood,nutrition,shelter,agricultureandwater,sanitationandhygiene(WASH)assistancetoIDPs,returneesandthosehostingthemincommunitiesandinformalsettlementsinBornoState,andfoodandWASHassistanceinYobeState.2Humanitarianassistance,fundedbytheUSAIDOfficeofForeignDisasterAssistance(OFDA),FoodforPeace(FFP)andprivatedonors,hasreached13,236householdsand71,363individualsacrossthetwostates.

AsthesecuritysituationhasstabilizedinportionsofYobeandBornoState,CRShasexpandeditsservicestoareasthathavenotreceivedhumanitarianassistance.AfterexpandingprovisionofaidtoBenisheiktothewestofMaiduguriMetropolitanCouncil(MMC)inearly2017,CRSinAprilbeganconductingassessmentactivitiesinGubioLGA,approximately100kmtothenorthofMMC.InitialCRSassessmentactivities,focusingonGubiotown,whichhasdrawnapproximately1500IDPhouseholdsfromadjacentruralareas,includedarapidmarketassessmentandasecurityassessment,followedbyarapidmulti-sectoraltechnicalassessment.ConductedbyCRStechnicalstaff,withthesupportofpartner-organizationenumerators,theassessmentcomprisedkeyinformantinterviews,focus-groupdiscussions,andtransectwalks,withthegoalofdeterminingkeycommunityneedsandthefunctionalityoflocalmarkets.Additionalhousehold-leveldatawascollectedduringregistrationofbeneficiariesforaprivatelyfundedfoodandagriculturalassistancepilotprojectbeginninginmid-May.

TheassessmentactivitiesfoundthatinGubiotownfoodinsecurityisacommonproblemamongdisplacedandreturneehouseholds,aswellasinthehostcommunityitself.Focusgroupparticipantsandkeyinformantsnamedfoodasthecommunity’sgreatestneed,andinitialregistrationdatafoundthat65percentofhouseholdswereexperiencingmoderatelevelsofhunger,and76percentofhouseholds’ReducedCopingStrategyIndex(RCSI)scoreswerehigh.Ingeneral,meanhouseholdhungerscoresandRCSIscoreswereslightlyhigheramongIDPsandreturneesascomparedtohostcommunityhouseholds.Duetoinsecurityinruralareas,foodproductionactivitieshavebeensubstantiallyreducedinrecentyears,andtheGubiomainmarkethasbeenclosedforsecurityreasons.Thesefactors,andthegenerallackofnon-agriculturallivelihoodoptionsappeartoplayanimportantroleinfoodinsecurity.Foodandnon-fooditemvendorsthatcontinuetooperatesmallshopsinGubio,includingseedandagriculturaltoolvendors,neverthelessreportbeingabletoincreasetheirstockofgoodswithina1-2weekperiodtomeetanincreaseindemand.TheassessmentdidnotfindevidenceofmajorshelterandWASHneeds;however,furtherverificationofwaterqualityisrecommended,andspotverificationsofthecleanlinessofdrinkingcontainerssuggeststhatfurtherassessmentofWASHknowledge,attitudeandpracticesiswarranted.

1UNOCHA,“Nigeria:BornoDisplacementProfileasof10thOctober2016,”2KassoumOuattara,�����������MarketAssessmentReport(CRS,July2016)

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BACKGROUNDInMay2013,theGovernmentofNigeriadeclaredaStateofEmergencyinthenortheasternstatesofYobe,BornoandAdamawainresponsetotheongoingBokoHaraminsurgency.OverhalfadecadeofconflictacrossNortheastNigeriahasledtowidespreadviolence,massdisplacement,marketandagriculturalinterruptions,adeclineorhaltinpublicservices,anddestructionofinfrastructure,propertyandlivelihoods.DespitecontinuingadvancesbyNigerianmilitarytosecureformerBokoHaram-controlledterritory,humanitarianneedsremainextremelyhighfordisplacedandotherconflict-affectedpopulations,asinsecurityandotherconstraintshavelimitedhumanitarianaccessformanylocations.BornoStatehasexperiencedthelargestdisplacementasaresultoftheBokoHaramcrisis,currentlyhosting1.4millioninternallydisplacedpeople(IDPs)withanadditional200,000BornoresidentsdisplacedintoneighboringNigerianstatesandothercountries.3TheAssessmentCapacitiesProject(ACAPS)estimatedinsummer2016thatsome4.5millionpeoplewereinneedofhumanitarianassistanceinBorno,ofwhom2.2millionresidedinMaiduguri.4

SinceSeptember2016,CatholicReliefServices(CRS)hasprovidedcriticalfood,nutrition,shelter,agricultureandWASHassistancetoIDPs,returneesandthosehostingthemincommunitiesandinformalsettlementsinBornoStateandfoodandWASHassistanceinYobeState.5Humanitarianassistance,fundedbytheUSAIDOfficeofForeignDisasterAssistance(OFDA),FoodforPeace(FFP)andprivatedonors,hasreached13,236householdsand71,363individualsacrossthetwostates.

WhileMaiduguricontinuestohostalargenumberofthosedisplacedbytheinsurgency,otherLGAcentersacrossthestatehavealsohavealsodrawnIDPs,primarilythosefleeingformruralareaswheresecuritylevelsaregenerallylower.Gubio,located100kmtothenorthofMaiduguri,isamongtheLGAcentersthatcontinuestohostIDPsfleeingfromruralareas,andwithimprovementinthesecuritysituationsincelate2016,hasalsobeguntoseethereturnofresidentswhohadfledtheareaforMaiduguriearlierintheconflict.

Inthefinalmonthsof2016,NGOsbegantohaveaccesstoGubioLGA,andtheWorldFoodProgram(WFP)completedaseriesoffooddistributionsinthetownofGubio.Sincethattime,however,therehasbeenlittletonohumanitariansupportprovidedinGubiotown.CRSinitiatedassessmentactivitiesinApril2017,conductingarapidmarketassessmentandasecurityassessment,beforelaterconductingamulti-sectoralrapidassessmenttobetterunderstandneedsrelatedtoshelter,WASH,livelihoods,andhealth.3UNOCHA,“Nigeria:BornoDisplacementProfileasof10thOctober2016,”https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/nigeria/infographic/nigeria-borno-displacement-profile-10th-october-2016.

4ACAPS,“CrisisProfile–July2016:NortheastNigeriaConflict,”https://www.acaps.org/sites/acaps/files/products/files/160712_acaps_crisis_profile_northeast_nigeria_b.pdf.8.

5KassoumOuattara,�����������MarketAssessmentReport(CRS,July2016)

GubioLGA(orangehighlight)becameaccessibletohumanitarianorganizationsinlate2017(source:IOM).

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METHODOLOGYAssessmentactivitieswereconductedduringthreevisitstoGubio,eachaffordingapproximatelyfourhoursoftimeonsiteduetosecurityconsiderations.Datawascollectedusingseveralmethods—directobservation,focusgroupsandkeyinformantinterviews—withthegoalofgatheringinformationfromdifferentsourcessuchthattriangulationorverificationofkeyfindingswaspossible.TheinitialrapidmarketassessmentwasconductedbyaCRSMarketsOfficer,supportedbyMarketsteamassistants,andcomprisedinterviewswith14foodandnon-fooditemvendors.ThesecurityassessmentwasconductedbytheCRSsecurityteam,supportedbytheCRSHeadofOperations,withinformationdrawnfromkeyinformantinterviewsandobservation.Membersofthemulti-sectoralrapidtechnicalassessmentteamwereselectedbasedontheirpreviousworkintherespectivesector,includingaCRSShelter/WASHofficer,aCRSAgricultureandLivelihoodsofficer,andaCRSMEALOfficer.TwoenumeratorsfromCRS-partner,theFederationofMuslimWomanAssociationofNigeria(FOMWAN),withexperienceconductingbeneficiaryregistrationwerealsoengagedtoassistwithfocus-groupdiscussions.TransectwalkswerecompletedinthreedifferentareasofGubiotown,withtheShelter/WASHassessment,visitingeveryfifthcompoundtoobservesheltertypesandWASHconditions.TheShelter/WASHteamalsovisitedboreholestocheckfunctionandwatervolume.Keyinformantswereidentifiedthroughdiscussionwithlocalgovernmentofficials,andfocus-groupdiscussionswereorganizedwiththehelpofthecommunityleaderresponsiblefortheGubio1Atarineighborhood.Additionaldatarelatedtohouseholdfoodsecurityispresentedinthesectionsbelowthatwascollectedduringtheinitialphaseofregistrationofbeneficiariesforprivatelyfundedfoodandagriculturalassistanceactivities.Household-leveldatawascollectedfrom605households,livinginthesoutheasternportionofGubiotown,whereCRSdecidedtobeginregistrationafterdiscussionswithcommunityleadersregardingtheportionofthetownwhereneedwasfelttobegreatest.Assuch,thesedatashouldbenotinterpretedasnecessarilyrepresentativeofGubioinitsentirety.Datawascollectedbyenumeratorsduringhouse-to-housevisitsduringtheperiodMay22-27,withallhostcommunityhouseholdseligibletoberegistered,inadditiontoIDPandreturneehouseholds.Sixty-onepercentofthoseregisteredwerehost-communityhouseholds,16percentwereIDPhouseholdsand23percentwerereturneehouseholds.FINDINGSShelterDuringtransectwalks,assessmentstaffnotedthatfamiliesinGubiomostcommonlyliveincompounds,withaprimarydwellingthatisgenerallyawell-constructed,fullybuilthouse.IDPstendtoliveinthecompoundofrelativesorotherhosts,andhaveconstructeddwellingswithmudwallsandathatchedroof,similartothedwellingsgenerallyconstructedbyhouseholdsinruralareas.Duringthecourseoftransectwalks,theassessmentteamcameacrossonlytwomakeshiftshelters,ofthesortcommonlyconstructedbyIDPsintheurbancenterofMaidugurifromstrawanddriedplantstalks.Thesetwomakeshiftsheltersaccountedforlessthan2percentofallsheltersobservedduringtransectwalks.

Keyrapidneedsassessmentactivities

§ Marketassessmento FoodandNFIvendorinterviews(14)

§ FocusGroupDiscussions(FGD)(2)o Women(4IDPs,2returnees,1local)o Men(3IDPs,1returnee)

§ Keyinformantinterviews(KI)(6)o CommunityleaderofGubio1Atario GubioSeniorHealthSupervisor(o Agriculturalinputvendors(5)

§ Transectwalks(3)

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Overall,105shelterswerecountedwithin67compoundsvisitedbytheassessmentteamduringtransectwalks(1.5dwellings:1compound).Duringregistration,activities,46percentofthoseregisteredwerefoundtobelivinginpermanentstructure,35percenthadconstructedashelterwithinacompound,and14percentwerelivingindwellingofahostfamily.WaterAccordingtokeyinformants,Gubiohaseightboreholes,allofwhicharepoweredbygenerators,connectedtothenationalelectricgrid.Theboreholesprovidemanyhouseholdswithpiped-inwater.Theassessmentteamwasabletovisitsixoftheboreholes,andfoundthattwoofthesixhadtapsforwatercollection.Threeoftheboreholeswereassessedforwaterproductioncapacity,withtwoproducing5000litersperday,andoneproducing3000litersperday.Itwasnotpossibletoeasilyestimatethepopulationoftheareaservedbytherespectiveboreholes.Theassessmentteamalsofoundthatmanyopenwellsexist,comingacross10duringthreetransectwalks.Wellswereestimatedtobeapproximately5-6metersindepth,andarefedwithwaterpumpedinfromoneoftheeightboreholes.Theopenwellsobservedwerenotcoveredtopreventcontamination.Bothfemaleandmalefocus-groupparticipantssaidthatwaterqualityisnotaprobleminGubio,andthatwaterissafetodrink;however,waterqualitywasnottestedbytheteamaspartofassessmentactivities.Withregardtoquantityofwateravailable,femalefocus-groupparticipantssaidthatattimesgeneratorsdonotfunction,meaningthenetworkofboreholesdonotproducesufficientwaterfortheentirecommunity.Malefocus-groupparticipantsalsosaidthequantitywasnotalwayssufficient.ThesefindingswereconfirmedbythecommunityleaderofGubio1Atari,whosaidthere

Gubioisservedbyeightboreholes,withgenerator-drivenpumpsthatarepoweredbytheelectricgrid.Focusgroupparticipantssaythatthewatersupplyissufficientforhouseholdneeds,aslongasthegeneratorsarefunctioning.

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weresomeproblemswithwaterquantity,stemmingfromproblemswiththeelectricalgrid,butthattherewerenoproblemswithwaterquality.Thecommunityleadersuggestedasolar-poweredpump-systemasasolutiontoproblemswiththegrid-poweredgeneratorsusedtofacilitatewaterpumping.SanitationBasedontransectwalksanddrivingthroughGubio,theassessmentteamratedtheoveralllevelofsanitationasacceptable.Whilenopubliclatrineswereobserved,theteamfoundevidenceofopendefecationinonlyonelocation,anabandonedstructure,oppositeaschool.Non-improvedpitlatrinesappeartobeacommonplacefordefecation,frequentlyobservedbyteammembersvisitingcompoundsduringtransectwalks.Focus-groupparticipants,alsosaidthatoverallthenumberoflatrinesperindividualwasnotsufficient,estimatingthattherewereabout20peopleperlatrine.ThecommunityleaderofGubio1Atariconfirmedthateveryhouseholdhasalatrine,butthatthereareoftentoomanypeopleusingagivenlatrine.Stagnatewater,whilenotdeemedasamajorprobleminGubiobytheassessmentteamintermsofitsprevalence,wasnotedattwoofGubio’swaterpoints,wherepuddlingwasobserved.Overall,theteamreportedseeingverylittlegarbageduringtransectwalks.WhilesanitationconditionswereobservedtobelargelyacceptableacrossGubioandwaterqualityappearstobegood,theassessmentteamdidnotethatmanyofthewatertransportandstoragecontainerstheyobservedduringtransectwalkswerenotclean.HygieneAccordingtofocus-grouprespondents,therearenopublicbathingplacesinGubio,andthecommunityleaderofGubio1Atariconfirmedthattherearenopublicbathingplaces.HealthThekeyinformantengagedinpublichealthandprovisionofhealthcareinGubioreportedthatmalaria,anemia,measlesandtyphoidfeverarethemajorillnessesaffectingreturneesandIDPs,

TheInternationalOrganizationforMigration(IOM)estimatedthat1500displacedfamilieswerelivinginGubioinJanuary2017,withthemajorityhavingfledinsecurityincountrysidesurroundingtheLGAcenter.

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withmalariaandmeasleshavingbecomemorecommonproblemsinrecentmonths.Nocasesofcholerahavebeenreportedinrecenttimes,accordingtokeyinformants.Femalefocus-groupparticipantsconfirmedthatmalaria,measlesandtyphoidweremajorhealthproblemsamongIDPsandreturnees.Inparticular,measleswassaidtoaffectveryyoungchildren(0-1yearold),whilemalariaandtyphoidaffectedadults.Bothmaleandfemalefocus-groupparticipantssaidmalaria,measlesandtyphoidhadallbecomemorecommoninrecentmonths.Withregardtohealthcare,therearethreehealthcentersinGubioaswellastwodispensaries.Malaria,measles,typhoidandcholeracanbetreatedlocally,whileseveremedicalcasescanbereferredortransferredtoMaiduguri,accordingtoGubio’sseniorhealthsupervisor.ThemajorbarrierforIDPsandreturneestoseekingmedicalcare,intheviewoftheseniorhealthsupervisor,islimitedknowledgeofwhatservicesexist,whereorhowtoaccessthem,andwhentheservicesareneeded.Ofnote,focus-groupparticipantssaidtheywenttotheclinicwhentheyweresickorill,butsaidtherewasonlyoneclinicinGubio.Intermsofgreatestneeds,healthofficialssayincreasedsupplyofbasicdrugs,mosquitonetsandsupplementsaremostneededatpresent.FocusgroupparticipantsalsonotedinsufficientsuppliesofdrugsinGubio.MalnutritionThelocalhealth-caresystemreceivessupportfromtheStateEmergencyManagementAgency(SEMA)andWFPwithregardtomalnutrition;however,theseniorhealthcoordinatorforGubiosaysthatadditionalsupportisneededinmobilizationandsensitizationofcommunitymembersinrelationtomalnutrition.FoodsecurityFoodwasdescribedastheoverwhelmingprioritybythoseparticipatinginfocus-groupdiscussions,ParticipantsreportedthateveryoneinGubiowasexperiencingsomedegreeoffoodinsecurity,butnotedthatIDPsaregenerallythemostfoodinsecure.DatacollectedduringtheinitialroundofbeneficiaryregistrationfortheCRSfoodandagricultureassistancepilotfoundthatamong605households,3percentwereexperiencingseverehunger,65percentwereexperiencingmoderatehunger,and32percentwereexperiencinglighttonohunger,basedonhouseholdhungerscoremethodology.6Meanhouseholdhungerscores(scale1-6)werehigheramongIDPs(2.15)andreturnees(2.21)ascomparedtohostcommunityhouseholds(1.8).Asimilarpatternwasobservedwithregardtofood-relatedcoping-strategyuse.BasedontheReducedCopingStrategyIndex7,76percentofallhouseholdsweredeterminedbeutilizingahigh-levelofcopingstrategies(scoreof10orabove),15percentwereutilizingamediumlevel(scoreof4-9),and3percentwereutilizingalow-levelofcopingstrategiesornotutilizingcopingstrategies(scoreof0-3).ThemeanRCSIscoreamongIDPSandreturneeswere18.8and19.1,respectively,whilethemeanamonghostcommunityhouseholdswas14.2.Meanfoodconsumptionscores8weresimilaracrossIDP(19.4),returnee(20.4)andhostcommunity(20.2)households,denotingonaverage,poordietarydiversity,butnotfarfromreachingborderlineacceptability(scoreof21.5-35).

6GuidanceNote,CalculationofHouseholdFoodSecurityOutcomeIndicators,WorldFoodProgramme,2012.7FoodConsumptionAnalysis:CalculationandUseofFoodConsumptionScoresinFoodSecurityAnalysis,VAM,2008.8GuidanceNote,CalculationofHouseholdFoodSecurityOutcomeIndicators,WorldFoodProgramme,2012.

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Focusgroupparticipantsreportedthatfoodinsecurityisinpartafunctionoflimitedaccesstofood,duetotheclosureofmainmarketinGubio,andreducedagriculturalproductionintheregioninrecentyearsduetoinstability.MarketsAccordingtofocus-groupdiscussionparticipants,Gubio’smainmarkethasbeenclosedforsometimeattherequestofsecurityforces,andtheydomuchoftheirlocalshoppingatsmallshops,wheretheybuybasicfooditems,suchasriceandcookingoil.Overall,thesupplyofhouseholdNFIsandhygieneNFIs(e.g.bathingsoap,laundrysoap)isverylimited,anditisoftennecessarytogotoMaiduguritopurchaseNFIs,accordingtobothmaleandfemalefocus-groupparticipants.LivelihoodsMosthouseholdsthatareabletogenerateincomedosothroughpettytrading,suchassaleofgroundnutsandcowpeas.Thisisgenerallydonebywomen.Malefocus-groupparticipantsmentionsaleoffirewoodanddriedgrassasmeansofgeneratingincome.Femalefocus-groupparticipantsdescribeprimarybarrierstogeneratingincomeasbeinglackofcapital,lowtechnicalskilllevel(i.e.fewhaveskillsorexperiencinginactivitiessuchastailoring,catering).Malefocus-groupparticipantssaidthatinsecuritywastheprimarybarriertoengaginginincome-generatingactivities.AgricultureInthepast,householdsengagedinfarming,butmosthavestoppedthelasttwoyearsduetotheinsurgencyandlackoffarminputs,accordingtofocusgroupparticipantsandthecommunityleaderofGubio1Atari.Thelatterestimatedthat95percentofpeopleinGubiohavefarmland.Similarly,focus-groupparticipantssaytheydon’tgardenatpresent,buttheysaidtheprimarybarrierisinsufficiencyofwater.Ifwatercouldbeaccessed,focusgroupparticipantssaiditwouldbepossibletogrowgardenvegetables.Focusgroupparticipantssaidthatitwouldbepossibletoobtainlandforuseforgardeningclosewheretheylive,orinfieldsneartotown.ThecommunityleaderofGubio1AtariconfirmedthatcommunitymemberswouldlikelybeopentogivingIDPslandtofarmorforgardening.Duetotheclosureoflocalmarkets,focus-groupdiscussionparticipantssaidseedsforfarmingandgardeningwouldhavetobepurchasedinMaiduguri.AccordingtothecommunityleaderofGubio1Atari,smallquantitiesofseedscanbepurchasedinGubio,butlargeramountsmostbepurchasedinMaiduguri,withthemarketinGubioclosed.HealsonotedthatfertilizercanbefoundinGubioonlywhenthegovernmentsuppliesit.CommoncropsgrownbythoselivinginandaroundGubioaresorghum,milletandcowpeas.Overall,insufficiencyofwaterforcultivationandlackoffarminputsweresaidtobethemajorbarrierstogardeningorfarming.Withregardtolivestock,femalefocus-groupparticipantssaidbeforetheinsurgencyitwascommontokeepgoatsandchickens,butthatmostpeoplelostalltheiranimalsasaresultoftheinsurgency,andhavehadnocapitaltosubsequentlyinvestinlivestock.Malefocus-groupparticipantsnotedthathost-communitymemberskeepcowsandsheepinadditiontogoatsandchickens.Ingeneral,fodderduringthedryseason,accesstowater,andinsufficientaccesstomedicationweresaidtobethemajorchallengesfacingthoseengagedinraisinglivestock.

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AgriculturalinputsDuringvisitstofiveshopsofagriculturalvendors,theassessmentteamfoundthattoolsandseedswerenotsoldtogether,butrathershopsspecializeineitherseedsorfarmingimplements.Overall,allfivevendorsestimatedthatapproximately50-60shopsinGubiosellagriculturalinputsofonesortoranother.Theseedvendorsvisitedbytheassessmentteammaintainsimilarinventoriesofseed,includingmillet,groundnut,andsorghum,withonesellingcowpeasandonesellingbeans.Milletandgroundnutweresaidtobethemostcommonlypurchasedseedsforbothshops,withbeansandcowpeasalsosaidtobepopular.Bothshopownerssaidfarmingismoreprevalentthanmaintainingagarden.Lackofaccesstofertilizerandinsecticidewereviewedasmajorchallengesforlocalfarmers,onthepartofvendors.Withregardtosupply,onevendorsaidhepurchasedhisseedfromnearbyvillages,whiletheothermostlyprocuredseedfromMaiduguri,withtheexceptionofgroundnut,whichhesourcedlocally.Bothreportedre-stockingdaily,withoneconfidentinbeingabletoincreasestockstoservealargenumberofnewcustomers,andtheothersayinghecouldstock-uptoserveasmallerincreaseincustomers.Bothfelttheycouldincreasetheirstocksinoneweek.Threeshops,alllocatedneartheroadside,soldagriculturalimplements,withhoes,shovels,rakes,axesandmachetesbeingtheirmostcommonitemsinstock.Allthreevendorssaidaxesandhoeswerethemostcommonlypurchasedtools,andallthreesourcedtheiragriculturalimplementsfromMaiduguri.Onevendorreportedre-stockingweekly,whiletheothertwousuallyre-stockedtwiceamonth.Allthreefelttheycouldincreasetheirinventorytoaccommodatealargeincreaseincustomers,buttheywouldneed1-2weekstoprocureadditionalinventory.Allthreecitedaccessingcredit,and“chargesoftransport,”aspotentialbarrierstoincreasingtheirinventorytoaccommodateanincreaseincustomers.

WhilethemainmarketinGubiohasbeenclosedduetothesecuritysituation,manyvendorscontinuetooperatesmallshops,sellingbothfoodandnon-fooditems.AgriculturalvendorssourcemostoftheirinventoryfromMaiduguri.

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NeedsandplansforthefutureFemalefocus-groupparticipantsmentionedavarietyofneedsonthepartofIDPs,includingshelter,food,health,nutritionandNFIs(thismaybereflectiveofthetopicsdiscussedoverthecourseofthefocusgroup,beforegreatestneedswerediscussedattheconclusion).Forreturnees,food,NFIandcapitalforbusinessstart-upwerementionedasprimaryneeds.Overall,focus-groupparticipantsfeltthateveryoneinthecommunityisfacingchallenges,andshouldbeconsideredvulnerable,althoughduringthemalefocusgroup,inwhichthreeofthefourparticipantswereIDPs,participantssaidthatIDPsandreturneesweremorevulnerableoverall.Malefocus-groupparticipantssaidthatforIDPs,shelter,foodandNFIswerethegreatneeds,whileforreturneesNFIsandshelterwerethegreatestneed.Withregardtoplansforprioritiesforthefuture,femalefocus-groupparticipantsmentioned“gettingagoodplacetosettle,”ensuringtheirchildrencouldcontinuetheireducation,andensuringtheirchildren’shealth.Mensaidtheirgreatestpriorityissecuringagriculturalinputstobeginfarming.Menalsomentionedaccessingcapitalforinvestmentinotherbusinessactivitiesandhavingbetterhealthcareaspriorities.PopulationmovementKeyinformantsandfocus-groupparticipantsfeelthatthenumberofreturneesmayincreaseinthefuture,withpeoplereturningfromMaiduguri,becausetheyhaveaccesstofarmlandinGubio.Theynote,aswell,thatdecreasedsecurityinthecountrysidecouldalsocausegreaterdisplacementofhouseholdstoGubio.ExistingsupportAccordingtothecommunityleaderofGubio1Atari,theNationalEmergencyManagementAgencyNEMAandRedCrossconductedaone-offregistrationofbeneficiaries,buthavenotreturned.RedCrossalsodistributedjerrycans,cookingpots,matsandmattressesatonepointtosomecommunitymember.WHOdidaone-timedistributionofsoapanddetergent,andNEMAdidaone-timedistributionoffoodproducts.Noconstructionorhygienesensitizationiscurrentlytakingplace.OneorganizationhasbeendoingMUACscreening,butthecommunityleaderwasnotsureoftheorganization’sname.CONCLUSIONSWhileinfrastructureinGubiotownhasnotsustainedsubstantialdamageduetoinsurgentactivities,andthetownhasbeenabletoabsorbthearrivalofanestimated1500IDPhouseholds,withouttheappearanceofinformalcampsorsettlements,foodinsecurityisawidespreadproblemacrossIDPs,returneesandthebroaderhostcommunity.Foodinsecurityappearstobelinkedtoreducedagriculturaloutputinrecentyears,reductionincommercealongtheDamasak-Maiduguriroad,theclosureoftheGubiomarket,andlackofincomeonthepartoflocalresidents,whohavefewnon-agriculturelivelihoodoptions.Marketclosures,disruptedsupplychains,andreduceddemandhavealsoaffectedthesupplyofhygieneandhouseholdNFIsandagriculturalinputs,althoughlocalvendorsgenerallysaidtheyareabletoincreasetheirinventoryinashort-periodoftimeifnecessary.TheassessmentdidnotfindevidenceofmajorshelterandWASHneeds;however,furtherverificationisnecessarytoensurethatwaterqualityis,infact,acceptable,whilespotverificationsofthecleanlinessofdrinkingcontainerssuggeststhatfurtherresearchintoWASHknowledge,attitudeandpracticesiswarranted.