- Harmattan conditions are exacerbating respiratory illnesses, including bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma, among Nigerians living in unsanitary, overcrowded IDP camps

LAGOS, Nigeria

As the harmattan winds sweep across northern Nigeria, they have brought a harsh reality for people living in the country’s camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Thousands of Nigerians who fled their homes due to attacks by the Boko Haram terror group in the northeast and banditry in the northwest now face an additional struggle – surviving the biting cold in overcrowded camps with inadequate shelter.

In the Ajiri IDP camp, located in the heart of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, conditions are dire as the cold, dry, and dust-laden harmattan winds – usually strongest between late November to the middle of March – blow down from the Sahara.

Tents that were meant to be temporary solutions have become permanent homes. Fragile structures provide little protection against the harsh weather, leaving families exposed to extreme cold.

Zainab Ali, a 20-year-old mother of two, has been living in the camp for nine years after her family was displaced from Ajiri following a Boko Haram attack.

“We need support. We need food, blankets, mats, and more,” Zainab told Anadolu.

“The cold weather is really harsh. Some of us have severe fever, and we can’t afford warm clothing for our children.”

For 15 years, Nigeria has battled one of the longest-running conflicts in Africa, as the Boko Haram terror group has wreaked havoc across the country’s northeastern region since 2009.

The group’s insurgency had resulted in nearly 350,000 deaths as of 2020, according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Additionally, more than 2 million people have been displaced – 1.8 million of them in Borno State alone.

International humanitarian organizations have called the crisis catastrophic. Doctors Without Borders has warned that the prolonged exposure to cold and inadequate healthcare in the IDP camps is creating a public health emergency, increasing the risk of hypothermia and respiratory infections.

Harmattan’s impact in Borno

Zainab’s story is not unique. Many IDPs in the camps have similar tales of displacement, loss, and survival.

Kaltuma, a 40-year-old mother, was displaced 10 years ago from Damakuli, a village in Monguno, Borno State.

“The past 10 years have been devastating for me and my five children. We’ve only been able to survive because of the aid we get from NGOs,” she said, her eyes filled with sorrow.

“Now, this cold weather is a big problem. I cover my children with every piece of cloth we have, but we’re still shivering through the night.”

For many IDPs, the cold weather is yet another layer of suffering.

Yagana Isa, a 40-year-old mother of five, lost her 14-year-old daughter and husband during a Boko Haram attack on her hometown, Baga, more than a decade ago.

Her trauma of loss and displacement is compounded by poor living conditions in the camp.

“Last year, I had enough blankets for my children, but I was forced to sold them all to buy food,” she said.

“Our living conditions are terrible in both the harmattan and the rainy season. I am suffering from the cold now, but I am also worried about the next rainy season.”

Sweeping across northwestern Nigeria

In Nigeria’s northwest, thousands face a different but equally devastating crisis. Armed groups, locally referred to as bandits, continue to terrorize states like Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina, engaging in mass killings, kidnappings, cattle rustling, and extortion.

A state governor recently estimated that more than 30,000 bandits operate in northwestern Nigeria, spreading violence that has forced thousands to flee their homes.

One such victim is Aisha Muhammed, a 38-year-old mother of two who was displaced by Boko Haram in the northeast before settling in an IDP camp in Sokoto.

“We have been displaced many times. We moved through nine different towns in Nigeria, and even Niger, before arriving in Sokoto,” Aisha told Anadolu.

“Since the harmattan started in December, my children have been suffering in the cold and they’ve had fever many times.”

Aishatu Tukur, a 50-year-old mother of seven, was displaced from Dogaye village in Zamfara State three years ago. She and her family now depend entirely on aid.

“We sleep on the floor, so it’s impossible to keep warm in this cold weather,” she said. “Our children are always sick, and we can’t afford medicines.”

Weather worsens health crisis

Medical experts warn that harmattan conditions exacerbate respiratory illnesses, including bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma, particularly among those living in unsanitary, overcrowded IDP camps.

“This season brings a surge in respiratory illnesses,” said Dr. Abdullahi Balogun, a physician based in Lagos.

“With Nigeria already battling multiple disease outbreaks, including cholera, authorities must prioritize vulnerable populations in IDP camps, and ensure they have access to proper healthcare, warm clothing, and adequate shelter. That could be crucial in preventing avoidable deaths.”

Malnutrition is another pressing concern. Many IDPs already suffer from food shortages, and the extreme cold further weakens immune systems, making them more susceptible to illness.

Commenting on the dire situation, Ezekiel Manzo, spokesperson for Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), insisted that the government is making efforts to assist IDPs.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure that vulnerable Nigerians live healthy lives,” Manzo said in a brief statement to Anadolu.