Yewande Adeleke
SiR: The Pandemic of Covid 19 has brought a lot of uncertainty to nations of the world. In this difficult time of self-isolation, social distancing, testing, recuperation and unexpected deaths, the human race is facing a great peril. Countries all over the world are battling with leaping figures of Covid-19 victims.
In Nigeria where the present figure of victims stands at 873, cities like Lagos and Abuja have been hit the most.
Now more than ever, displaced persons face a greater risk of being affected by the pandemic due to overcrowding incidents within the IDP camps, which could cause rapid spread of Covid-19.
With over 1.8 million displaced persons in Northeast due to the humanitarian crisis caused by Boko Haram, displacement camps in Nigeria are predominantly sheltering rural families in urban settlements who may not have access to proper information about the virus.
This amongst many other reasons, has made IDPs easy target and exposed their vulnerability to the pandemic as they are mostly dependent on supplies from humanitarian organizations and the government.
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In Northern Nigeria, precisely Maiduguri, it was not until when the IDPs complained about total lack of support from the Nigerian government that efforts were made to fit a laboratory with tools and manpower for people to be tested. An index case of Covid-19 reported in Borno further prompted the state government’s decision to decongest its IDP camps.
Although without a doubt, the Nigerian government has taken great steps in reducing the pandemic, it still needs to include IDPs in national plans and make greater efforts to provide for their needs. More attempts should be geared towards ensuring that IDPS are not marginalized or stigmatized in this critical time.
Better communication modes should be established to ensure that IDPs are adequately sensitized. More effective strategies should be adopted towards avoiding the spread of the pandemic within the IDP camps.
Tips on sanitisation, disinfection and provision of basic healthcare wash facilities will go a long way in helping. Now more than ever, IDPs require easy access to essential supplies such as food and clean water.
In a precarious time such as this, IDPs are more susceptible to increasing incidents of violence, rape, robbery and sexual molestation incidents amongst other crimes. This calls for more measures to be put in place to guarantee that their human rights are protected and preserved.
In the event that Covid-19 does not go anytime soon, the mind boggles; what hope lies for the residents of IDP camps in Nigeria. Are there enough test kits for them? Are they receiving proper care in a time like this when they need it the most? With the economy in distress, do IDPs still get funding for their basic needs?
- Yewande Adeleke, <adelekeyewandee@gmail.com>
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