Sylvain Cherkaoui, photojournaliste

Due to violence by Boko Haram and the conflict between the group and Nigeria’s military forces, thousands of people have been displaced in Borno state in Nigeria. In several locations in the region, people are living in enclaves and are prevented from leaving due to insecurity or restrictions. These enclaves are situated in camps or towns controlled by the military and are cut off from the outside world. People cannot farm, or keep up their livelihoods. They have either fled, or have been forcibly moved there and are now effectively stranded. The living conditions are deplorable, with people lacking basic food supplies, water and healthcare. Movement is restricted and people are totally reliant on outside aid, but insecurity prevents aid organisations from accessing these locations. MSF teams from Cameroon first managed to reach Ngala and Gambaru in Nigeria on September 19th. Ngala is a militarised camp hosting some 80.000 internally displaced people. It is situated some 7kms outside the town of Gambaru, where its 123,000 residents also lack basic food supplies and have no access to healthcare after the town’s only clinic was burnt down. Roads are too dangerous for people to go elsewhere for medical care. MSF teams found that 10 percent of children in Ngala and 15 percent of children in Gambaru were suffering from severe acute malnutrition and are in desperate need of assistance. MSF provided food and medical care and are scaling up assistance. Teams will distribute therapeutic food to severely malnourished children, vaccinate children against measles, conduct medical consultations, improve the water supply and distribute soap and non-food items. A general food distribution will be held in Ngala, ensuring the 80.000 residents of the camp receive food for two weeks.