“Sometimes I feel like the world isn’t made for people like me,” Shiminenge says, his voice firm despite the weight of the words. In Gbajimba, in north-central Nigeria, the 32-year-old lives daily in a camp for internally displaced people that offers little space, security or accessibility for people with disabilities.
Around her, tents stretch out on dry, uneven ground. The paths become muddy and difficult when it rains. Toilets and water points are further away than she can reach without help. Yet, every morning, she overcomes the same obstacles, determined not to disappear into a place that was never designed for her.
Shiminenge is among more than 480,000 people displaced by the intercommunal conflict in Benue State.
She fled her village of Guma in 2018 and has since lived in a displaced persons camp in Gbajimba. Like many others, she left with little more than the hope of finding safety.
But his journey began long before the trip.
Shiminenge (right) received support from IOM and other humanitarian agencies.
At just nine months old, her parents were told she would never be able to walk after a diagnosis that shaped the course of her life. Growing up with limited mobility meant constant adjustments and an early understanding of what it means to move through the world without accessible support.
Today, life in the camp adds another layer of daily challenges: poor housing conditions, no accessible sanitation, and a landscape that is almost impossible to navigate.
Speaking ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebrated annually on December 3, she said: “In the camp, every step out of my tent was a struggle. » It’s not just about physical obstacles; it’s the feeling of being invisible, of being forgotten in a place where surviving is already so difficult.
Barriers to services and dignity
The feeling of invisibility described by Shiminenge is shared by many people with disabilities in displacement contexts. They are often among the most marginalized among internally displaced populations, facing unique barriers to shelter, health care, sanitation and essential services.
In these environments, inaccessible infrastructure and limited targeted support can increase the risks of neglect, exclusion and abuse. As these barriers accumulate, they make movement even more difficult and further endanger the rights and dignity of people with disabilities.
Despite these limitations, Shiminenge refused to give up. Resourceful and determined, she began selling mosquito repellent in the camp, earning a small income while helping to protect other camp residents from malaria.
Her resilience quickly turned into advocacy. She helped create a disability association in Gbajimba, bringing together 18 other disabled people to lobby for mobility aids, equitable access to resources and more inclusive facilities.
Camp upgrade
In August 2024, a team from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) visited the camp to assess the living conditions of the displaced people. After years of feeling invisible in a crowded place, the visit was different. “For the first time here, I felt like someone was listening,” she said.
In response to the association’s requests, IOM, with the support of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, carried out a total overhaul of the camp to ensure that the specific needs of persons with disabilities are met with dignity and respect.
As part of the overhaul, nearly 4,000 improved emergency shelters were constructed in Gbajimba, each built to withstand the region’s seasonal rains and provide safer living conditions for displaced families.
The revamp also introduced a dedicated disabled section, offering disabled-friendly toilets, accessible water points and kitchens designed to be easy to use.
Throughout the area, gently sloping ramps and common social spaces have been added, allowing residents to move around independently and participate more fully in daily camp life.
“These changes mean more than just practicality; they give us a sense of dignity and belonging,” she said.
