Paper short abstract:

The health threat posed by climate change and the Coronavirus pandemic is of massive global magnitude. With the fear of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, it becomes very important to identify measures and social safety nets targeted at displaced persons.

Paper long abstract:

Climate change and COVID-19 haVe caused global disturbances that haVe surpassed borders and posed threats to the lives of the world population. In Nigeria, the number of displaced persons due to disaster stood at 157,000 at the end of 2019. With The increase in the number of persons displaced in Nigeria due to disasters such as floods and drought, together with those displaced by conflicts and violence, effort have been made by the Nigerian Government, individuals and Non-governmental organizationsto proffer lasting (mitigation and/ or adaptation) strategies/solutions to this problem. The challenge associated with protecting those displaced is often compounded by the declining security situation in the country, socio-economic fragility, harsh climatic conditions, poor infrastructure and poverty. With the advent of the coronavirus, the inability of displaced persons to strictly adhere to some of the measures such as social distancing, use of face mask, constant washing of hands with soap and fast flowing water due to their crowded living conditions and limited access to basic amenities may likely increase the spread of the virus This paper will make use of secondary data from the COVID-19 Situation Analysis of IDPs in North-Eastern (Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe) Nigeria. The paper will specifically seek to understand the scope of displacement; assess the knowledge, practice and impact of COVID-19 on IDPs, identify the social safety nets in place and the main drivers curbing the spread of the virus in IDP camps.