Fanne, a 40-year-old resident of the Ngala ISS Camp and originally from the neighbouring village of Ngamri-Balge, first moved with her parents to Gamboru to seek greener pastures.
Fanne got married and had a normal life with her successful fisherman husband and children until an attack by an armed group in the Gamboru village. During the escape that night, she got separated from her husband and two sons and has not seen them again. Soon after their return to the village, a clash between the Nigerian Army and non-state armed groups on the outskirts of the village sent them running again. This time, they were rescued by government actors who sent them to the ISS Camp in Ngala.
“Life in the camp was difficult, and there was often insufficient food.” — Fanne
According to her, all this changed when WFP and CARE distributed food commodities to last them thirty days. For the first time in a very long time, Fanne smiled. Fanne is now optimistic that things will get better. She notes that having food to eat is a basic need for her and her children because “getting out of this situation will require a lot of energy. There are two ways to get up from the ground, either by putting your hands on the ground or by holding on to something or someone. The food assistance WFP gave us through CARE is something to hold on to while we stand.”
