Terrain characteristics
Groundwater availability
Groundwater quality
Environmental degradation
Flood risk
Overall suitability

IDP Camp Suitability Toolbox

This toolbox provides a quick assessment of flood risks and water security in existing IDP camps, while also evaluating the biophysical conditions of potential new sites. It aims to support data-driven decision-making for selecting suitable locations and prioritizing interventions in both current and new IDP camps. The toolbox consists of five thematic maps:

These maps collectively form an overall suitability map.

The maps are integrated into a user-friendly web application, enabling IOM and other stakeholders to easily access the suitability maps from both office environments and field locations.

This toolbox offers essential baseline information for identifying, prioritizing, and conducting site-specific studies, such as flood risk assessments with mitigation plans or water resource evaluations with groundwater development strategies. The insights generated aim to facilitate decision-making across sectors like WASH and contribute to the wellbeing, development, and resilience of IDPs.

A detailed explanation of the methodology used to develop these maps can be found here. Instructions for using the web application are available in the User Manual.

International Organization for Migration (IOM) is leading the humanitarian response in Northeast (NE) Nigeria, where Internal displacement, driven by conflict and insurgency, has led to the establishment of numerous Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. More than 504,000 people were estimated to have been displaced by floods in the BAY states. IDP camps are overcrowded and in need of support for basic needs like Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services.

Climate change and related disasters compound the existing challenges through floods which are worsened by the flat plains characteristic of the NE Nigeria terrain during the rainy season, while most rivers run dry during the dry season due to the arid conditions.

The dynamics of displacement in NE Nigeria are complex, they contribute to environmental degradation and increases reliance on unsustainable groundwater extraction. This increases the vulnerability of IDPs to waterborne diseases and exacerbates their already challenging living conditions. Therefore, there are government’s plans to decongest the camps in order to improve IDPs living conditions. IOM collaborates with the governments and other humanitarian partners in the camps decongestion efforts through the development of durable solutions.

IOM WASH is contributing to this initiative by ensuring water security of both the existing and new settlements by leveraging digital solutions to allow decision makers ensure the suitability settlements locations. To this end, IOM WASH has partnered with Acacia Water in developing a Digital Suitability Map Toolbox to support IOM and other humanitarian partners in emergency preparedness and crisis response.

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