Convenor(s)
Umoh Boniface / University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Institute For Development Studies
Conflicts and its associated challenges across the globe have led to continual increase in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. Cessation of hostilities may not readily translate to normalcy, as such the problem of refugees and internally displaced persons remain even after the conflicts. The potential panelists argue that this situation may continue to arise as a result of xenophobia, security concerns, economic, health and environmental issues and trust deficit among others. The panelists further observed that over the years, non-state actors including Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) have risen to fill the gap in addressing the humanitarian needs of IDPs and refugees. However post –conflicts management in religious/socio ethnic laced conflict is increasingly throwing complex challenges of credibility for even FBOs who may also be viewed by some parties as overt or passive supporters of the opponent. Therefore, members of the proposed panel suggests that the following key sub-themes will critically address the subject matter: State dilemma in Managing IDPs/refugees amidst global terror spread; The experiences of FBOs in ethno- religious conflict induced internal displacements; the resilience of community structures and institutions in the face of uninvited strangers; Opportunities and challenges in forming coalitions among FBOs of diverse religions in managing IDPs; Economy and Charity: Is there still space?
Les conflits et ses problèmes associés à travers le monde ont menée l’augmentation constante du nombre des réfugiés. L’arrête des hostilités ne traduira peut-être pas facilement a la normalité, entant que tel les problèmes des réfugiés restent encore après les conflits. Les intervenants potentiels soutenir que cette situation peut continuer à survenir par conséquent de la xénophobie, la concerne pour la sécurité, économiques, la santé, les problèmes écologiques et manque de confiance parmi des autres choses. Les participants ont observé de plus, que pendant des années passées, les acteurs non-étatiques, y compris les organisations confessionnelles ont monté pour combler l’écart adressant aux besoins humanitaires des réfugiés. Cependant, la gestion post-conflit dans conflit religieuse/ethnique jetant de plus en plus les problèmes complexes de crédibilité pour même les organisations confessionnelles qui peut-être ont considéré par certain parties comme ouvert ou supporteurs adversaire passif. Donc, les membres d’intervenant proposé ont suggéré que les principaux sous-thèmes suivant adressera sévèrement le sujet : Le dilemme d’état en gestion des réfugiés parmi le répand de la terreur mondial ; Les expériences des organisations confessionnelle en ethno-religieuse conflits induits ; la résilience des structures communautaires et les institutions face a des étrangers indésirables ; Économique et de la charitable : Y at-il encore de la place?
Orji Nkwachukwu / Institute for Development Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria & Alexander von Humboldt Post-Doctoral Research Fellow GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies Hamburg, Germany
Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Delivering Aid to People Affected by Conflict: A Study of the Experience of Communities in Jos, Nigeria
This paper examines the ways in which faith-based organizations (FBOs) implement humanitarian assistance for internally displaced people in Jos, a city in north-central Nigeria that has become a hotbed of sectarian violence over the last fifteen years. The case study of Jos is particularly pertinent because it contributes to our understanding of the governance mechanisms of non-state humanitarian assistance and how FBOs negotiate the provision of humanitarian services to conflict-affected communities where they are also protagonists in the conflict. The paper explores two methods of faith based aid – the faith-centred approach, which is particularistic, providing support first or solely, to the FBO’s faith community, and universalistic approach which considers all members of the community who require aid in aid-giving. The paper argues based on the Jos case that the adoption of these approaches is determined by the structure of FBOs’ relief operations, sources of funding, and nature of services on offer. The paper argues that while the universalistic approach is preferred by liberal scholars, donors and development practitioners, the faith-centred approach possesses some advantages that should be considered. In conclusion, the paper notes that although most FBOs in Jos adopt a faith-centred approach to aid giving, the structures of inter-faith partnership in aid-giving are beginning to emerge.
Iwuamadi kelechi / Institute for Development Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
The Politics of Internally Displace Persons in the North-Eastern Nigeria: A Prognosis Analysis of Boko Haram Insurgency, 2007 – 2014
The spread of Boko Haram insurgency in the north-eastern Nigeria has been linked to ethnic, religious and political dimensions. When it started, Boko Haram was almost seen as entirely ethnically homogenous being led and sustained by Kanuri youths. Later, there were strong indicatiosn that it has succeeded in recruiting a reasonable number of people from other ethnic groups into its fold. Another school of thought said it has to do with Islamic youth however, what is more worrisome here is that their victims are more Muslims than any other religion. There other perception that it is politically driven particularly by the oppositions to the government at the central level. The irony here also is that the sub-national level particularly in the northeast is more affected that the national or central level. What is clear from the rise of Boko Haram is that the counter insurgency measures of the government, the political class, and the non-state actors like religious and ethnic leaders, has failed in quelling the rebellion. This perhaps has resulted to the daily increase in the number of internally displaced persons within the region. It is therefore against this backdrop that the paper seeks to examine if there are there ethno-religious and political dimensions of insurgency and activities of Boko Haram as it affects the management of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North East geopolitical zone of Nigeria?
Ugwuanyi Onyeka Romanus / Institute for Development Studies, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus
Aid Without Strings? An Examination of Faith Based Organisations Assistance to Selected Internally Displaced Persons Camps in Nigeria
Internally displaced persons are people displaced by wars, erosion, conflicts or boundary disputes. Different organizations and agencies always show interest to come to the aid of the displaced persons for aids.. The rescue group ranges from governmental, nongovernmental and faith-based organizations, which includes Christian and Muslim groups. Certain issues are yet not clear about the strategies employed by these organizations in their aid mission considering the heterogeneous nature of the IDPs, UN guiding principles and the mission of the faith based organizations. Is the Aid without string? The researcher made use of information gathered from respondents comprising Muslim men/women IDP’s and Christian men/women IDP’s of both native and non-natives of the region of conflict. Data was analyzed using the UN guidelines as a bench mark.
This work investigated and discusses the strategies of FBOs, its sharing formula which mostly was according to the attendant or pressing needs of the IDPS not faith.
The paper is justified against the background of few empirical studies of IDP’s in Nigeria specifically within purview of the United Nations guiding principles on internal displacement.
Recommendations for better responses to the distribution and management of IDP’s needs were also given for the use of relevant governmental, non –governmental and faith based organizations.