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![Biography of the Forgotten - An interior view of a tent in the Mafa displaced camp.]()
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![Biography of the Forgotten - Zainab, who lives in a displaced camp, is a survivor of a Boko Haram attacks.
She lost everything she had: her home, her husband, two children, and the use of a leg due to a gunshot wound.
She is looking after seven children.
Some are her grandchildren, others are orphans.
In order to escape the guerrilla fighters, she covered herself with leaves and waited hours in the bush before they left.]()
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![Biography of the Forgotten -
A farmer collect wheat in the Mafa field.
As the dry season approaches, insurgents activity generally ramps up. Farmers can't get to their land during planting season due to security concerns.]()
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A farmer collect wheat in the Mafa field.
As the dry season approaches, insurgents activity generally ramps up. Farmers can't get to their land during planting season due to security concerns.
![Biography of the Forgotten -
Women Support Center is a place for women and girls to come together and talk about gender-based violence, to support each other, and to help put an end to it.]()
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Women Support Center is a place for women and girls to come together and talk about gender-based violence, to support each other, and to help put an end to it.
![In the city of Mafa a Nigerian girl follows a NGO's Psychosocial session.
A constant sense of uncertainty over the future, coupled with the fear and the desire to return home, adds to daily stress.]()
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![In the women's support center, a newborn baby sleeps.
Nigeria is currently the seventh most populous country in the world.]()
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![In the district of Zilimari aid workers disinfects water by using chlorine.
The country is still plagued by epidemics such as cholera, typhus, and tetanus.]()
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![A former Boko Haram child soldier demonstrates how to shave the head during a "Life skills session.”
In 2011, Boko Haram fighters seized control of his village and after burning it to the ground, they kidnapped him. During the training, they taught him how to fight, shoot, and specially how to behead victims.
He was 11 at the time.]()
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A former Boko Haram child soldier demonstrates how to shave the head during a "Life skills session.”
In 2011, Boko Haram fighters seized control of his village and after burning it to the ground, they kidnapped him. During the training, they taught him how to fight, shoot, and specially how to behead victims.
He was 11 at the time.
![As a result of polio, Atu, has atrophied legs.
His belief is that a bad spirit entered him during the night when he was a baby and permanently damaged him.
The Borno State is finally Polio-free.
Nigeria achieved a monumental success on August 2020 when it became a polio-free country after completing three years without any wild poliovirus cases.]()
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As a result of polio, Atu, has atrophied legs.
His belief is that a bad spirit entered him during the night when he was a baby and permanently damaged him.
The Borno State is finally Polio-free.
Nigeria achieved a monumental success on August 2020 when it became a polio-free country after completing three years without any wild poliovirus cases.
![Football fans watch the training of a soccer team at the El-Kanemi Stadium, in Maiduguri.]()
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![At the maternal and Children Health Center in a IDP Camp, a pregnant woman has her baby's heartbeat checked.]()
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![In one of Maiduguri's most renowned restaurants, two young assistant chefs prepare the ingredients for the dinner time.]()
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![A family waits at the Maiduguri checkpoint.
Occasionally families decide to return to the bush when the assistance available in the overcrowded camps is not enough to provide a decent life.]()
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A family waits at the Maiduguri checkpoint.
Occasionally families decide to return to the bush when the assistance available in the overcrowded camps is not enough to provide a decent life.
![An NGO provides hygiene kits to internally displaced women in Monguno.
Outside of Monguno town, the security situation remains adverse and civilians are under- protected due to military operations and frequent terrorist's attack.]()
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![A man selects beans for his wife, who plans to use them to make street food to sell to provide for the family.]()
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![A Ngo manager working in his office in Maiduguri.
in some sectors, Maiduguri has been hard hit by violent extremism, while in other sectors, the economy has boomed due to the influx of nongovernmental organizations.]()
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![Outside the main market, a young tuk tuk driver waits for customers.As a result of the military and violent extremists blocking transport routes and making farms unreachable, food prices at the Monday Market - the largest in Maiduguri - skyrocketed. Extortion by security forces also played a role.]()
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![Before attending a wedding ceremony, a woman tries on her dress at a tailor's shop. Although Boko Haram has recently targeted wedding parties, weddings are still on the rise because they bring joy back to people's lives.]()
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![On an unpaved road in front of an NGO headquarters, young men play football before sunset.]()
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On an unpaved road in front of an NGO headquarters, young men play football before sunset.
![In the EYN church, a group of Christians prays outdoors.
Boko Haram fighters burned down the Church in 2009, and it was rebuilt.]()
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In the EYN church, a group of Christians prays outdoors.
Boko Haram fighters burned down the Church in 2009, and it was rebuilt.
Biography of the Forgotten
"Biography of the forgotten" presents a glimpse into Nigeria's Borno State life after more than a decade of conflict caused by Boko Haram.
Since 2009, Borno state has been suffering an unparalleled humanitarian crisis. Millions of people became homeless as a result of the jihadist terrorist group Boko Haram's insurgency.
Uproar following the kidnapping of 276 girls from a Chibok school in 2014, claimed by the then Boko Haram's leader, attracted media attention worldwide.
This provided the Nigerian Army with the opportunity to get international assistance and try to fight back guerrilla fighters.
In spite of that today the fate of the inhabitants still appears uncertain.
At the present time the Nigerian Government claims that Boko Haram has been " technically defeated" despite the group continuing to operate and strike throughout Nigeria's North-East, and particularly in the Borno State.
It's been years that insurgents have consolidated their grip in locations around Lake Chad and still carry out attacks on villages even after the death of both leaders, Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf and Abubakar Shekau, last one killed in May 2021 by the Nigerian Army.
Boko Haram 's reign of terror has spread fast from northeast Nigeria into Cameroon and Niger, has led protracted displacement, violence, abuse and killings.
Survivors of Boko Haram (and of armed groups as NSAG and ISWAP) assaults recount attacks of extreme brutality: villages are completely burned to the ground, children kidnapped and civilians are beheaded.
These factors have profoundly affected people's mental health and psychosocial wellbeing, especially of women and children, that have to cope with aftermath traumas, kidnappings, disease, malnutrition.
Lack of hope for the future.
Trauma is often exacerbated by a perpetual dependency on humanitarian assistance for survival and the precarious conditions in which people are force to live.
Soon over a thousand households living in IDP camps will have to face even the forced resettlement.
The state government of Borno began returning displaced people to their villages and plans to close all camps within Maiduguri by 31 December 2021, although IDPs resettled have witnessed guerilla fighter's multiple attacks few weeks after returning to their homes.
In the midst of all this sorrow, there is one bright spot.
Following years of attacks and kidnappings, both Muslims and Christians in Borno State have joined forces to repel attacks and try to protect each other.
In the last 11 years, Boko Haram's violence has displaced more than 2.7 million people and killed nearly 30,000.
Since 2009, Borno state has been suffering an unparalleled humanitarian crisis. Millions of people became homeless as a result of the jihadist terrorist group Boko Haram's insurgency.
Uproar following the kidnapping of 276 girls from a Chibok school in 2014, claimed by the then Boko Haram's leader, attracted media attention worldwide.
This provided the Nigerian Army with the opportunity to get international assistance and try to fight back guerrilla fighters.
In spite of that today the fate of the inhabitants still appears uncertain.
At the present time the Nigerian Government claims that Boko Haram has been " technically defeated" despite the group continuing to operate and strike throughout Nigeria's North-East, and particularly in the Borno State.
It's been years that insurgents have consolidated their grip in locations around Lake Chad and still carry out attacks on villages even after the death of both leaders, Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf and Abubakar Shekau, last one killed in May 2021 by the Nigerian Army.
Boko Haram 's reign of terror has spread fast from northeast Nigeria into Cameroon and Niger, has led protracted displacement, violence, abuse and killings.
Survivors of Boko Haram (and of armed groups as NSAG and ISWAP) assaults recount attacks of extreme brutality: villages are completely burned to the ground, children kidnapped and civilians are beheaded.
These factors have profoundly affected people's mental health and psychosocial wellbeing, especially of women and children, that have to cope with aftermath traumas, kidnappings, disease, malnutrition.
Lack of hope for the future.
Trauma is often exacerbated by a perpetual dependency on humanitarian assistance for survival and the precarious conditions in which people are force to live.
Soon over a thousand households living in IDP camps will have to face even the forced resettlement.
The state government of Borno began returning displaced people to their villages and plans to close all camps within Maiduguri by 31 December 2021, although IDPs resettled have witnessed guerilla fighter's multiple attacks few weeks after returning to their homes.
In the midst of all this sorrow, there is one bright spot.
Following years of attacks and kidnappings, both Muslims and Christians in Borno State have joined forces to repel attacks and try to protect each other.
In the last 11 years, Boko Haram's violence has displaced more than 2.7 million people and killed nearly 30,000.
Maiduguri's entrance Gate.
Much of the humanitarian aid is concentrated in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. Maiduguri hosts one million internally displaced people
Much of the humanitarian aid is concentrated in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. Maiduguri hosts one million internally displaced people
Biography of the Forgotten
2
Overpass construction in Maiduguri.
In times of relative peace, the city has attempted to rebuild its economy by building roads and infrastructures to stimulate growth in other areas affected by the insurgency.
The repeated destruction of power infrastructure by Boko Haram has left residents without grid electricity for months.
Overpass construction in Maiduguri.
In times of relative peace, the city has attempted to rebuild its economy by building roads and infrastructures to stimulate growth in other areas affected by the insurgency.
The repeated destruction of power infrastructure by Boko Haram has left residents without grid electricity for months.
Biography of the Forgotten
A group of female students waits for the school bus near the school's exit.
As a result of the abduction of 276 girls in a Chibok school, and the subsequent daily kidnaps, girls live in fear of being kidnapped by insurgents.
As a result of the abduction of 276 girls in a Chibok school, and the subsequent daily kidnaps, girls live in fear of being kidnapped by insurgents.
Child in a Monguno IDP camp, a town in the north-eastern part of Borno State.
Boko Haram has often kidnapped children in IDP camps.
Girls are made into sex slaves while boys are recruited as militants.
Lately there's a significant increase on using teenagers and children as human bombs.
Boko Haram has often kidnapped children in IDP camps.
Girls are made into sex slaves while boys are recruited as militants.
Lately there's a significant increase on using teenagers and children as human bombs.
Biography of the Forgotten
A woman with her goats in Monguno city.
In Monguno, many NGOs work to treat acute malnutrition in communities by giving beneficiaries livestokes.
In Monguno, many NGOs work to treat acute malnutrition in communities by giving beneficiaries livestokes.
Biography of the Forgotten
An interior view of a tent in the Mafa displaced camp.
Biography of the Forgotten
Zainab, who lives in a displaced camp, is a survivor of a Boko Haram attacks.
She lost everything she had: her home, her husband, two children, and the use of a leg due to a gunshot wound.
She is looking after seven children.
Some are her grandchildren, others are orphans.
In order to escape the guerrilla fighters, she covered herself with leaves and waited hours in the bush before they left.
She lost everything she had: her home, her husband, two children, and the use of a leg due to a gunshot wound.
She is looking after seven children.
Some are her grandchildren, others are orphans.
In order to escape the guerrilla fighters, she covered herself with leaves and waited hours in the bush before they left.
Biography of the Forgotten
A farmer collect wheat in the Mafa field.
As the dry season approaches, insurgents activity generally ramps up. Farmers can't get to their land during planting season due to security concerns.
Biography of the Forgotten
Women Support Center is a place for women and girls to come together and talk about gender-based violence, to support each other, and to help put an end to it.
In the city of Mafa a Nigerian girl follows a NGO's Psychosocial session.
A constant sense of uncertainty over the future, coupled with the fear and the desire to return home, adds to daily stress.
A constant sense of uncertainty over the future, coupled with the fear and the desire to return home, adds to daily stress.
In the women's support center, a newborn baby sleeps.
Nigeria is currently the seventh most populous country in the world.
Nigeria is currently the seventh most populous country in the world.
In the district of Zilimari aid workers disinfects water by using chlorine.
The country is still plagued by epidemics such as cholera, typhus, and tetanus.
The country is still plagued by epidemics such as cholera, typhus, and tetanus.
A former Boko Haram child soldier demonstrates how to shave the head during a "Life skills session.”
In 2011, Boko Haram fighters seized control of his village and after burning it to the ground, they kidnapped him. During the training, they taught him how to fight, shoot, and specially how to behead victims.
He was 11 at the time.
As a result of polio, Atu, has atrophied legs.
His belief is that a bad spirit entered him during the night when he was a baby and permanently damaged him.
The Borno State is finally Polio-free.
Nigeria achieved a monumental success on August 2020 when it became a polio-free country after completing three years without any wild poliovirus cases.
Football fans watch the training of a soccer team at the El-Kanemi Stadium, in Maiduguri.
At the maternal and Children Health Center in a IDP Camp, a pregnant woman has her baby's heartbeat checked.
In one of Maiduguri's most renowned restaurants, two young assistant chefs prepare the ingredients for the dinner time.
A family waits at the Maiduguri checkpoint.
Occasionally families decide to return to the bush when the assistance available in the overcrowded camps is not enough to provide a decent life.
An NGO provides hygiene kits to internally displaced women in Monguno.
Outside of Monguno town, the security situation remains adverse and civilians are under- protected due to military operations and frequent terrorist's attack.
Outside of Monguno town, the security situation remains adverse and civilians are under- protected due to military operations and frequent terrorist's attack.
A man selects beans for his wife, who plans to use them to make street food to sell to provide for the family.
A Ngo manager working in his office in Maiduguri.
in some sectors, Maiduguri has been hard hit by violent extremism, while in other sectors, the economy has boomed due to the influx of nongovernmental organizations.
in some sectors, Maiduguri has been hard hit by violent extremism, while in other sectors, the economy has boomed due to the influx of nongovernmental organizations.
Outside the main market, a young tuk tuk driver waits for customers.As a result of the military and violent extremists blocking transport routes and making farms unreachable, food prices at the Monday Market - the largest in Maiduguri - skyrocketed. Extortion by security forces also played a role.
Before attending a wedding ceremony, a woman tries on her dress at a tailor's shop. Although Boko Haram has recently targeted wedding parties, weddings are still on the rise because they bring joy back to people's lives.
On an unpaved road in front of an NGO headquarters, young men play football before sunset.
In the EYN church, a group of Christians prays outdoors.
Boko Haram fighters burned down the Church in 2009, and it was rebuilt.
