The role of the UNHCR in assisting the protection of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Borno State of Nigeria

• Main Author: Magaji, Tasiu
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: HV Social Pathology. Social and Public Welfare; JZ International relations; K Law (General)
• Online Access: https://etd.uum.edu.my/9019/1/s902081_01.pdf; https://etd.uum.edu.my/9019/2/s902081_02.pdf; https://etd.uum.edu.my/9019/3/s902081_references.docx; https://etd.uum.edu.my/9019/
• Institution: Universiti Utara Malaysia

The ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in Northeast Nigeria has rendered about two million Nigerians internally displaced. This scenario has caused the worst humanitarian crisis at the epicenter of the insurgency in Borno state. A large number of its populations have been forced to flee, abandon their homes, and move to relatively safer places, such as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps. What is more of a concern is that these IDPs have been living without the basic necessities of life and are frequently exposed to human rights abuses. Despite this, the Nigerian government is unable to provide adequate protection to these people. Consequently, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has jointly taken the responsibility of protecting and assisting them. In view of this, this study aims to examine the roles played by UNHCR in assisting the protection of the IDPs in Borno state. There are three main objectives in this study. Firstly, the study examines the international and national legal framework empowering the UNHCR to protect IDPs in Borno state. Secondly, the study analyses how UNHCR can assist in protecting IDPs and why they have been successful in doing so. Thirdly, this study further highlights and analyzes the challenges confronting UNHCR in protecting the IDPs in Borno state and how to overcome them. This study adopts a qualitative method, in analyzing both primary and secondary data. The sources of primary data are acquired from the semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, along with treaty, policy and legal instruments. The inputs of semi-structured interviews derived from legal experts, academicians, media experts, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and officials from the UNHCR, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI). Meanwhile, the focus group discussion was held involving the participation of IDPs. Secondary data sources were obtained from journal articles, books, newspapers, and online sources. The obtained data were thematically analyzed. Both the cosmopolitan and dualism theories were used as the analytical tool for this study. The findings of this research show that there is no specific legal framework for IDPs protection in Nigeria. Additionally, the UNHCR has been actively protecting the IDPs, albeit without legal jurisdiction and sufficient financial resources. The lack of jurisdiction, along with inadequate funding and insecurity, has undermined the agency’s efforts to adequately assist in protecting the IDPs. Finally, this study recommends the domesticating of the 2009 Kampala Convention in Nigeria’s national legislation and introducing a national policy to address the plight of the IDPs in Borno state.