It involves speedy intervention to save lives, alleviate suffering, ensure protection of all persons during disaster and help victims get back to their feet. In Nigeria, there are huge humanitarian needs which emanates from the insurgency in the North-East, banditry violence in the North-West, incessant inter-community conflict in the middle belt, growing Cameroonian refugee population in the South and constant flooding in during the rainy season thus pushing millions of people into crisis. It has not only left several people homeless, destroyed lives, properties and business activities, impacted negatively on food security but also affected the mental health of the victims. Continued activities of insurgence groups, banditry, inter community conflict in North-East especially in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe have increased the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria. About 8.4 million women, men and children are in need of humanitarian assistance in 2022. Food insecurity is a serious growing problem in Nigeria caused by annual flooding which degrades the environment and destroys crops, farm settlements, livestock and seedling stores.
In 2019, there was an outbreak of respiratory disease (COVID 19) which later was declared a global pandemic by World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020. To control the rate of infection and death, there was restriction on international travels, lockdowns and public gatherings. Nigerians were already battling with rising cost of living in the face of insecurity caused by local bandits and rising terrorist groups as well as communal/herders and farmers conflict, before COVID 19 emerged and brought more hardship for the people. COVID-19 negatively impacted the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians and have continued till date. Some people lost their jobs and other sources of livelihood. The prices of goods and food items increased beyond the reach of many Nigerians and the vulnerable groups was hit the hardest. Some of the vulnerable groups including persons affected by leprosy and persons with disability were forced into street begging to fend for themselves and their families.
COVID-19 impacted negatively on the healthcare system in the country by exposing numerous inadequacies in the health system and infrastructure. However, there has been some notable infrastructural development brought about by the pandemic. In a bid to cushion the effect of the pandemic on the persons affected by leprosy, Buruli Ulcer, DRTB patients and persons with disability in 11 states namely; Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi in the South-East and Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo and Delta States in the South-south geographical zone in the control of leprosy, TB and NTDs were provided with palliative support. Over 2,500 households benefitted from the cash transfer, provision of food items and WASH materials between 2020 -2022. RAN donated Personal protective equipment for frontline health workers (face mask, hand-gloves) in 3 referral centers (St Joseph Hospital Adazie, St Benedict Hospital Ogoja and Mile four hospital Abakaliki). To support the federal government on awareness creation about COVID 19, the organization held several radio programmes to educate the public on the symptoms and how to protect themselves during the period.
