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Tag: IDPs

  • Cleric donates food items to IDPs

    Cleric donates food items to IDPs

    It was another joyous moment at the internally-displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Abuja when Word and Spirit Assembly Church donated food items and other relief materials to them.

    The church, which has its headquarters in Lagos, visited the camp in Karamajiji to present the gifts which included bags of rice, gallons of groundnut oil, yams and cloths, among other items. The members were led by Senior Pastor Chris Ekeh.

    Speaking at the event, Pastor Ekeh said: “The gesture was our way of giving back to the society.”

    Pastor Ekeh urged Nigerians to shun religious sentiments, saying there was need for Nigerians to treasure the lives of fellow humankind.

    He also called on government, organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to assist the IDPs who were forcibly driven out of their ancestral homes by insurgents in the Northeast.

    While receiving the gifts, the representative of the IDPs and Secretary to the Emir, Mohammed Dantali, commen-ded Pastor Ekeh and his church for the gesture, saying the IDPs need permanent accommo-dations, electricity, market place and schools for their children.

  • IDPs pray for benefactors

    IDPs pray for benefactors

    To demonstrate their gratitude to those who have been taking care of them since they were displaced from their ancestral homes by the insurgents in the Northeast, the Internally Displaced Persond (IDPs) in Adamawa State prayed for their benefactors. TONY AKOWE reports

    For the internally-displaced persons (IDPs) in Adamawa State, penulti-mate week presented a moment for celebration and prayers. Despite the unpleasant situation in which they found themselves as a result of the bestial activities of insurgents in the Northeast, they had cause to thank God; at least, they are alive.

    Having lost almost everything and despite residing in a camp outside their ancestral homes, they lived on charity. Individuals, groups, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and governments have shown them love and care. To these benefactors, they remained grateful.

    So, to express their gratitude, they decided to give back to those who have been taking care of them. Since they do not have material things to offer, they went on their knees to pray for God’s blessings on and protection for their benefactors.

    Having so decided the IDPs put aside their religious and sectarian differences to offer thanks and praises to God; supplicating for His protection on those who freely took care of them, especially during the Yuletide.

    From the seven local government areas of Adamawa State, one of the states worse hit by activities of the insurgents, men, women and children headed for the churches and mosques to offer prayers for the donors as well as for members of Adamawa Peace Initiative (API) for providing their daily needs. Recall that government at all levels and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have shown commitment to the sustenance of humanitarian works in the Northeast.

    The IDPs had received medical supplies, blankets, vegetable oil, spaghetti, seasonings, salt, sugar and rice as donations from three prominent philanthropists namely Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar.

    Atiku, who is the founder of Abti-America University of Nigeria is said to have been in the vanguard in providing financial support for the IDPs since the varsity became involved in their feeding more than a year ago.

    At St. Theresa Catholic Cathedral Church, Jimeta where 15,500 families were served in three batches, a Muslim woman, Amina Mamman, joined the Bishop of Yola Catholic Diocese, Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza, in praying for peace in Nigeria and in expressing appreciation to those who made the donations to support IDPs in the state.

    Six hundred families received food and relief items at the Adamawa State headquarters of Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Jimeta, where JNI officials Gambo Jika and Fadimatu Ahmad Marafa led the IDPs in prayers.

    This was replicated at the New Life Gospel Centre, Demsawo, Deeper Life Camp, and other centres where volunteers from the American University of Nigeria and Adamawa Peace Initiative distributed food and relief items donated by Dangote Foundation.

    The IDPs and officials of API took turns to thank the donors, the API, Governor Mohammed Jibrilla of Adamawa State and the volunteers who had worked untiringly to alleviate the suffering of the IDPs during the year. About 163,500 households benefited from the food, medicine and other relief materials supplied and distributed by religious and community-based organisations in December.

    Humanitarian aid was also sent to IDPs who had relocated to their homes through local contacts networking with AUN-API. According to the Coordinator of Relief for AUN-API, Bello Abdullahi, supplies were sent to IDPs in Maiha, Mubi North and South, Hong, Gombi, Michika and Madagali local government areas through trusted members of API working in those areas. They ensured effective distribution of the relief materials.

    Coordinator of the Madagali distribution and President of Kinjir Foundation, Hon. Saleh Kinjir, confirmed that over 552,000 households had received supplies from the API through local partners of AUN-API since the crisis peaked in 2014. These partners include Kinjir Foundation, JIBWIS, Upper Room Cathedral and the Adamawa Muslim Council.

    Food items and medicines sent to IDPs in the seven most affected local government areas cost N100 million. These were made available by Mohammed Indimi and were passed on to API by Governor Jibrilla, as well as funds given by Atiku.

    President of AUN, Dr. Margee Ensign, who heads the Adamawa Peace Initiative, said the organisation had initiated numerous programmes in the community for the benefit of both indigenes and the IDPs.

    “We have the all-year-long ‘Peace Through Sports’ programme, two major income-generating projects for community women and a literacy programme christened ‘Technology Enhanced Learning for All’.

    “Under the literacy programme funded by the United States Government, 20, 000 vulnerable youths, including out-of-school children, displaced children and those disadvantaged in schools who are now learning how to read, will benefit.

    “It has not been an easy year, or an easy Christmas, in this part of Nigeria. But there has always been hope, there has always been remarkable generosity and there has always been goodwill,” she said.

  • Federal Radio Corporation shows love to IDPs in Borno

    As part of measures to ameliorate the pains of Internally Displaced Persons in Borno State, staff of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, led by its director general, Mallam Ladan Salihu recently donated food items and relief materials to the Dalori camp. Adetutu Audu reports.

    It was a day hope was rekindled and life given a fresh positive meaning as the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, donated food, clothing and gift items worth millions of naira to the internally displaced persons, IDPs, at the Dalori Camp in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The items, donated by the management and staff of the FRCN, included children clothing, baby wears, pampers, sanitary pads, and other personal essentials.

    Just as the children in the camp beheld the corporation’s director general, Mallam Ladan Salihu with excitement, the adults though weighed down by the reality of their situation, also had hope and excitement written over their faces.

    Without doubt, the plight of IDPs in the country calls for attention, and it is gratifying that a government agency like the FRCN is taking it upon itself to identify with them and ameliorate their sufferings. As at the end of 2015, there were still 2.1 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 34 camps scattered across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

    According to the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, there were 2,400 pupils from IDP camps who were transferred to Unity Schools to continue their education on scholarship by the Save School Initiative programme, supported by ex-British Prime Minister Mr. Gordon Brown.

    He said reconstruction and rehabilitation of the zone should begin soon, as the war was almost over.

    “In the last five years, we had insurgency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, which made the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the states. There was displacement of people. We still have 2.1 million Internally Displaced Persons with over 1 million in Borno State. We had to establish camps in the three states. There are about 26 camps in Borno, 11 in Adamawa and four in Yobe. We used to have IDP camps in Gombe and Bauchi States, but due to the success recorded under this administration, the seven councils controlled by the insurgents have been liberated. The 11 camps in Adamawa State have been collapsed into four, as IDPs return to their homes.”

    While receiving the FRCN team at the Government House, the Borno State governor, Kashim Shetimma, said it was gratifying that the Ladan Salihu-led radio outfit has come to identify with them in their hour of need.

    “That Ladan Salihu got the staff and management of FRCN to donate items for our IDPs in Borno State shows the magnanimity of his heart and his management style. The items you brought are handy. We are at the heart of harmattan season. We want you to show empathy at Dalori Camp. Most of them live in tents. We have about 18,000 IDPs there. In Maiduguri, we need about 940 bags of rice per meal. And we have 31 camps in Maiduguri.”

    Throwing more light on the IDPs situation in the state, the governor said they have camps in Bama and we have in Konduga. He added that as he was hosting the FRCN, people in Damboa were congregating in Sabongeri while those in Burate are coming to Biu. But the governor said he is not giving up.

    “I know this madness will soon be over. What we are witnessing is temporary. Some few months back, 20 local governments of the 27 we have were under the occupation of Boko Haram. You cannot move more than ten kilometres outside Maiduguri, you would be in Boko Haram’s territory.

    Earlier, the FRCN boss told the governor that they were in Borno to identify with the people of the state and to assure them that they were not alone in their hour of need. The ace broadcaster said Borno held a special place in his heart, second only to his home state, Bauchi. He said he came with the management team of the FRCN to show that they all shared a common humanity.

    He said not only was the state at the receiving end of insurgency; the trappings of political competition, contradictions and at times, subversion, and that the governor also had to deal with a population that is huge and full of expectations.

    “I wonder how many times you have asked yourself: is this the time to be a governor. But you have probably answered the questions in your silence and prayers that this is the time because someone has to step out and forward for Borno State.”

    Earlier, the FRCN team had also visited the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar, where the Salihu extolled the virtues of the monarch, whose emirate has been at the receiving end of a barrage of Boko Haram attacks. Salihu said it was important for them to visit the monarch and pay their respects and homage before proceeding to the IDPs camp.

  • IDPs acquire skills

    IDPs acquire skills

    The Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast has resulted in the death of thousands of people and displaced millions of them who became internally-displaced persons (IDPs) in their father land. They have been squatting in different parts of the country which they consider safe.

    They depend on favours from people in order to survive. Government at all levels, groups and well-meaning individuals have given them some support, mostly in form of relief materials. Some of them have also been trained in some skills in order to be self-sufficient.

    Recently, the TY Danjuma Foundation and All Children Charity International Foundation (ACCIF) Integrated Skills Acquisition for IDPs trained about 50 IDPs from Chibok who are at the Kpegi Village Camp Kuje Abuja for three months. They were trained in fishery, poultry farming, shoe making, bead and bag making and tailoring.

    The Executive Director of the TY Danjuma Foundation, Dr. Sunday Udoh explained that “the TY Danjuma Foundation is committed to changing the lives of the less-privileged people in the society. They include people who were displaced from their ancestral homes because of the violence in the Northeast.

    “The foundation is working hard to give back hope to the IDPs. The programme aimed to show them love, teach them skills and empower them; and after the process of learning, they are equipped with all the needed tools to continue with what they have been taught.

    “The foundation is ready to reach out to other places; we have the mandate to reach out to as many people as possible. We realised that simply brining foodstuffs to these people is not sustainable. It just amounts to taking care of their welfare and you are only giving them fish which they simply eat and are done with. Teaching them how to fish would mean empowering them for life so that they can teach others.”

    Twenty-Five-year-old mother of three, Monica David who learnt tailoring and bead making was proud to display her handiwork, saying that she was going to help her people with the new skills that she had learnt.

    She said: “I am really grateful to the foundation for teaching us these skills. To be honest, when peace returns to Chibok, I will like to return and establish myself. With this, I will be able to feed and pay my children’s school fees and generally take care of my family.”

    Another beneficiary, 29-year-old Andrew Bulus explained that he travelled to several places with his wife and four children before finally settling down at Kpegi village. Andrew said learning a skill now means that he will not have to beg to take care of his family in future but will be able to take care of them.

    He added: “I learnt a lot of things which included shoe making. I made the shoe that I’m wearing and because of this new skill, I am confident that wherever I go to, I will be able to take care of my family with what I learnt. The skill has given me the confidence and will to live again. Now, I do not mind where I find myself, because I am confident that I can use this to take care of my family anywhere.”

    The Coordinator ACCIF, Mrs. Ranti Daudu advised the beneficiaries to use the opportunity they have given to take care of themselves and be self-sufficient.

    She said: “Most people do not know it but these people are so hard-working and determined to learn. About five of them were delivered of their babies during the training but they were not deterred because the next day, they were behind their machines sewing.”

    Mrs Daudu called on the government and individuals to continue to support the IDPs and to patronise those that have learnt some form of trade to enable them to take care of themselves.

  • We sorely missed Christmas, say refugees in IDPs camp

    We sorely missed Christmas, say refugees in IDPs camp

    Borno and Yobe indigenes, who were forced by the Boko Haram sect to flee their homes for internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Jos, Plateau State, celebrated Christmas in a mood that reflects their plight. But Governor Simon Lalong was there to cheer them up, writes YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU.

    THE victims of insurgency in the North East who are currently taking refuge in Jos, the Plateau State capital, had never wished to celebrate Christmas outside their original homes. But they had no option but to spend the Yuletide in the cold atmosphere of Jos since it was not possible for them to go back to their homes.

    Before Christmas, the refugees had marked their first anniversary in the Jos camp on November 1. That was the day they arrived the camp in 2014 when the deadly Boko Haram sect overran their villages and declared them Islamic territories. They had seized the opportunity of the one-year anniversary to cry once again to the relevant government agencies that they had over-stayed in the camp and wished to be returned to their homes.

    They had then declared: “We don’t want to spend another Christmas in camp. We want to go back home. President Buhari is the father of all Nigerians. The only help we need from him is to take us back home for us to celebrate Christmas in our homes.”

    According to Mr. Mark Lipdo, the Programme Manager of Stefanos Foundation, the NGO that provided the camp for the IDPs, “We have kept 479 families in the camp for over a year. My NGO only thought of providing them a temporary camp, expecting government to take them over. But it is now one year and they are still here.”

    He added: “The NGO has only managed to integrate some of them into various communities in Plateau State. However, there are at least 94 families in the camp comprising of 466 people, including 38 males, 88 females and 340 Children.”

    These are the categories of victims who marked the 2015 Christmas in Jos IDPs camp. Of course, they are all Christians. And not minding their situation, they had to join other Christians all over the world to celebrate the day their Lord Jesus Christ was born.

    On the eve of Christmas, the IDPs arranged one of the classrooms at Zang Commercial College, Jos, where they are taking refuge, to hold their church service. It was announced in the camp that the church’s mass would commence at 9 am on December 25. So, the women woke early enough to prepare the Christmas meals before the mass. By 9 am, they had all converged on the church for the service.

    Of course, there are pastors among them. One of them, Pastor Daniel Daudu, and the leader of the camp, Pastor Manch Daram, served as the officiating pastors. They took a reading from the Book of St. Luke, Chapter 2 to preach to the congregation.

    The mass was rounded off at about 10.30 am and the IDPs returned to the camp to enjoy their meals.

    It was, indeed, a moment of so sober reflection for many of the IDPs who wished they were in their original homes to celebrate Christmas the way they used to. One of the IDPs, a British woman who got married to an evangelist when during her missionary work to Gwoza, Borno State in early 1960s, Mrs Daniel Guza, said: “This is the situation we found ourselves, and we have to bear it because we believe it is temporary. The Bible warned us earlier that as Christians, we will be persecuted like Jesus Christ. So we take this as a revelation of what the Bible says and we take solace in the words of the bible that this one too will pass away.”

    Her husband, a retired reverend, Daniel Gula, said: “We have just conducted our church service here as we used to do in our original homes. It does not matter where you worship God because God is everywhere, He is the same God in Maiduguri, Adamawa, Yobe, here in Jos and anywhere under the sun. God told us that whereever two or three people gathered in his name, he will be there with them. So, we are the children of God and God is with us right in this camp and we believe strongly that God has received our prayers today.”

    A mother of three in the camp, Mrs. Elizabeth Sally, 35, said: “Since I was born in Gwoza, 35 years ago, I had never spent Christmas outside Gwoza. But this is the second Christmas I’m now spending in this camp. I am not happy here. There is no place like home. I hope to return home someday.”

    Another refugee in the camp, Mr. Luka Samson, said: “In my village, Madagali, we used to celebrate Christmas for two to three weeks. We use the period to hold several cultural activities and we enjoyed our native meals and delicacies. But we can’t do that here in the camp. At the moment, our life is not complete and that is why you can see that no one is happy. We are missing home and we pray we return home one day.”

    But in spite of the gloomy mood in the camp, many of the children, apparently oblivious of their predicament, were seen playing around. Some of their parents were able to buy new cloths for them as some of them were seen in their new Christmas dresses. The children were also thrilled with the arrival of Father Christmas in the camp.

    Because of the cold weather of Jos, the men in the camp sat in the sun to enjoy the Christmas meals prepared by their women. The food was mostly rice and stew, corn or millet meal with okra soup. Most of them preferred to eat the rice the traditional way.

    But while they were enjoying their meals, the Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, paid them an unscheduled visit at about noon on Christmas Day. Lalong, who was accompanied by five of his commissioners, was received at the camp by the Programme Manager of Stefanos Foundation, Mr. Mark Lipdo as well as the camp leader, Mr. Mancha Daram.

    While welcoming Gov Lalong to the camp, Lipdo said: “You are the first governor to visit the camp. These IDPs have spent one year and two months in the camp. Your visit today is a major source of relief and encouragement to the IDPs. This shows how much you care for their situation.

    “We remember you came to the camp during your campaign and you have come again after your election. You have shown that you are indeed a leader for all in the state.”

    Explaining his visit to the camp, Lalong said: “I have to be here personally to show my love to these victims. I recognise the fact that this is the season to share love and gifts, but I thought that it would not be enough for me to send my gift to the IDPs. I just need to be here personally to see what is going on. I was here during my campaign earlier in the year. I remember I promised to come again after my election.

    “I am happy because the camp’s population has reduced compared to the last time I came. I am aware of the trauma you are going through, but there is hope that it will come to an end one day; a day not too far from now.

    “The APC government of President Muhamadu Buhari is so committed to the plight of IDPs and he has the desire for you to return home. But before you return home, the home must first be secured. The good news is that the federal government has defeated Boko Haram. The next plan of government is to rehabilitate the IDPs.

    “So, you can rest assured that you homes have been cleared of Boko Haram. That means in no distant period, you will be asked to return home. So let’s keep praying for Mr. President to succeed in his plans to rescue this country from insurgencies and economic distress.

    “As a state, we are determined to do our best to provide for you within the period you are here. I am determined to make sure you don’t regret your stay in Jos.

    “The most important thing is that you are alive. You should help government in promoting peace when you get back home and not to think of vengeance.

    “For your Christmas celebration, I would have loved to spend time with you here so that we celebrate together, but I can’t. I have a lot of state matters to handle at the moment. But I have here two cows and five bags of rice for your Christmas celebration.”

    Pastor Daram expressed gratitude to the governor on behalf of his members. He said the visit of the governor would last long in their memories and they would continue to remain grateful to him.

    Pastor Daram asked the governor to convey their message of gratitude to Mr. President, saying, “We join other Nigerians in prayers that God Almighty will see him through in his administration.”

  • Adamawa IDPs: we celebrated Xmas on empty stomachs

    INTERNALLY Displaced Persons (IDPs) in all the major camps in Adamawa State lamented their alleged abandonment on Christmas Day by most of the political leaders in the state. A survey our correspondent carried out in the camps revealed that the IDPs were left on their own during the Christmas period. Only the Catholic Church and the Veterinary Medicine Association of Nigeria distributed food items to about 4000 IDPs.

    Speaking during the occasion, Rev Father Maurice Kwairanga, said about 4000 IDPs were given assorted food items for Christmas. But he said the church could not do so for other IDPs for lack of resources adequate resources.

    The Veterinary Medicine Association of Nigeria had previously donated four specially bred bulls to the internally displaced persons at Damare Camp for the celebration of Christmas and Eid el Mouloud by the Christian and Muslim faithful respectively, who were accommodated in the camp following their escape from the dens of Boko Haram insurgents earlier in 2015.

    At the Malkohi Camp, one of the IDPs, Miss Fatima James, recalled that the previous year when political activities were in top gear.

    Another IDP, Hajiya Maryam, said at the Damare Camp that unlike the previous year there was nothing for them during the just concluded Christmas.

    She said: “By this time last year (2014), there were many cows in this camp for IDPs. But this Christmas, nobody brought anything to us. We are celebrating Christmas on empty stomachs. Only the NGOs are helping us here at the camp.”

    Veterinary doctors in Adamawa State also lent helping hands by donating cows to the IDPs. The President of the Veterinary Doctors Association, Dr Edgar Amos, who made the donation at the camp, told newsmen that the cows were donated to identify with the displaced persons and enable them celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ.

    He noted that insurgency had affected all sections of the society, “including our association. We lost two of our members to Boko Haram attacks. These cows were specially bred for the IDPs for the celebration of Christmas.”

    He said the association considered it necessary to identify with the displaced persons in celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ along with other Nigerian Christians.

    According to him, what unites Nigerians irrespective of religious background are more fundamental than what divides them, saying that the interval in the celebration was not only coincidence but designed by God to Nigerians some lessons for them to continue to emphasize on unity in the country.

    The Nigeria Veterinary Doctors Medical Association, is the umbrella body of veterinary doctors in Nigeria and the mandate include the prevention, and control of animals diseases which are diseases that are common between man and animals.

  • Yobe gives blankets to IDPs

    Yobe gives blankets to IDPs

    For the over 10,000 internally-displaced persons (IDPs) living in makeshift tents in the Kuka Reta Camp in Yobe State, the blankets couldn’t have come at a better time. The blankets will protect them from the bitting hamattan cold.

    After several appeals, the government finally came to the IDPs’ aid, a promising better coordination of humanitarian assistance and relief materials to the camp.

    Yobe State Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu, who is also the chairman of the State Resettlement and Rehabilitation Committee, led a high-powered delegation for the second time to the camp to assess the IDPs problems.

    Other humanitarian agencies such as the International Committee on Red Cross (ICRC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA); Action against Hunger (ACF), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) were on Aliyu’s entourage. They were briefed by the Head of Kuka Reta village, Lawan Babagana.

    After addressing the IDPs, Aliyu also inspected the camp to ascertain the cleanliness of the surroundings. He also inspected one of the three borehole projects at the camp.

    In his address, Mr. Aliyu assured them that security agencies are working untiringly to ensure that they returned to their various communities and live more comfortable life.

    “It is our duty as a government to ensure your security and welfare. We are here because we are a responsive government. Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has inaugurated a committee that will go round all your villages to know what you have lost in the course of this problem.

    “The reason for doing that is to ensure that you return safely to your homes and start a new life. All of you know that you cannot just start going back to your homes now because most of the houses you left behind have been destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents. That is why government has to come in to, at least, reconstruct some of those places before you go back.

    “But I want to assure you that you will soon return to your homes because our security agents are making serious progress to rid all the communities of the insurgents in order to make them safe. Very soon, all your pains and sorrows would be over,” Mr. Aliyu said.

    In a chat with reporters after the inspecting the camp, the Deputy Governor informed that the state government’s resettlement committee’s and his visit to Kuka Reta were part of the mandate of the committee to ensure proper coordination of humanitarian and relief assistance for IDPs in the state, just as it will also redouble its efforts in making the welfare of IDPs a priority.

    He said the committee has already been divided into sub-committees which have already commenced work with a visit to some of the destroyed communities in Gulani Local Government Area. This aims at taking an authentic census of the level of destruction to enable government to embark on a proper and realistic resettlement programme.

    He added that remarkable progress has been made in the various sub-committees which, according to him, are working assiduously to realise the overall objectives of the committee.

    With the visit of the Deputy Governor and in line with the mandate of his committee, the Sub-committee on Shelter, Water and Sanitation has also swung into action to provide some of the immediate needs of the IDPs.

    The Chairman of the sub-committee, Mohammed Lamin, who is also the Commissioner for Education had began distribution of over 9,000 units of blankets at the Kuka Reta IDP Camp so as to lessen the effect of hamattan cold on the IDPs, especially children.

    The distribution of the item took place at the frontage of the village head of Kuka Reta, and was done in accordance to the number of displaced villages mostly from Gujba Local Government Area. The Commissioner handed over the heaps of blankets to various Heads of villages for onward distribution to their people.

    While addressing the people, Lamin urged them to be patient as government is putting everything in place to ensure their safe return to their homes.

    He revealed that the blankets were procured at the cost of N4.5 million, adding that the state government has also procured additional 15 units of tents to raise more shelters for the IDPs.

    One of the major challenges at the camps has been water which makes the environment insanitary. However, the General Manager of Rural Urban Water and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), Mohammed Bukar has allayed fears in that respect.

    According to him, the state government, in conjunction with Doctors without Borders (Medicine San Frontier) has raised the water level at the camp from 92,000 litres to 230, 000 litres per day, adding that the chunk of that intervention is coming from Doctors without Borders.

    He noted that with the three standard boreholes being sunk at the camp, the water needs of the people would be drastically improved with attendant improvement of hygiene.

    North Report investigation revealed that the Kuka Reta IDP Camp had an initial population of over 20,000, including children. Currently, the population has decreased to a little above 13,000 people. This is so because some of the displaced persons, especially from Borno State, have returned to their various communities as security situation has improved in those areas.

  • 2.1m IDPs still in 34 camps, says NEMA

    2.1m IDPs still in 34 camps, says NEMA

    There are still 2.1 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 34 camps in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, has said.

    He said 2,400 pupils from IDP camps were transferred to Unity Schools to continue their education on scholarship by the Save School Initiative programme, supported by ex-British Prime Minister Mr. Gordon Brown.

    Speaking yesterday in Kaduna after receiving the Best PerformingCivil Servant and Best Organisation for Good Governance awards from the Northern Youth Council, the NEMA boss said with efforts of the military, leading to the liberation of seven councils under Boko Haram, the country had passed the emergency stage in the Northeast.

    He said reconstruction and rehabilitation of the zone should begin, as the war was almost over.

    “In the last five years, we had insurgency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, which made the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the states. There was displacement of people. We still have 2.1 million Internally Displaced Persons with over 1 million in Borno State.

    “We had to establish camps in the three states. There are about 26 camps in Borno, 11 in Adamawa and four in Yobe. We used to have IDP camps in Gombe and Bauchi states, but due to the success recorded under this administration, the seven councils controlled by the insurgents have been liberated. The 11 camps in Adamawa State have been collapsed to four, as IDPs return to their homes.

    “Government has policies and programmes to support those displaced. The presidential committee for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the displaced people is led by Gen. T.Y. Danjuma and the Save School Initiative, a public-private partnership programme. These are geared towards supporting youths.

    “Schools were shut in the last two years and some have not been reopened. Two thousand four hundred children were transferred under the Safe School Scheme from the Northeast to other parts of the country. There is a programme of building and rehabilitation of the affected schools in the three states. The government is doing a lot to support the IDPs, who are fed three times daily.”

    The President of the Northern Youth Council, Malam Isah Abubakar, said NEMA and its DG were given awards to appreciate their efforts and motivate them and other organisations to do more.

  • In Jos, IDPs lament

    In Jos, IDPs lament

    Their lamentations were akin to those of the Israelite’s who suffered atrocious ill-treatment in the hands of their Babylonian captors. They were homesick and wondered how they could sing their national song in a strange land. They looked forward to the day they would be taken back to their ancestral homes.

    Victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast who are in a camp as internally-displaced persons in their father land feel the same way the Israelites felt; about going back to their roots. Their lamentations were quite touching.

    Hear them: “Please, for the sake of Almighty God, return us to our homes. How long shall we remain outside our homes? How long shall we continue to live on relief materials? How long shall we live on donated food items? How long shall we live with this trauma? Many unanswered questions. The lamentations were couched in a song sang by the young ones at the camp during an event to mark their one year in the IDPs’ camp in Jos.

    Naturally, the IDPs feel abandoned by the Federal Government after their displacement from their ancestral homes by Boko Haram insurgents. They have spent over one year in the camp with no hope of leaving the camp or returning to their homes. They desired to go back home, but they have none anymore.

    To commemorate one year of establishing the camp, the Stefanos Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), had organised an event at the camp. The IDPs, who have been in the camp for over a year, sang songs to express their pains, feelings; expectations and frustrations.

    They have been crying out and had made several appeals to government to better their lives. They only attention they received from government, according to them, were relief materials. But they said they are tired of living on relief materials; they want government to help them in rebuilding their homes to enable them to return to their ancestral land and start life afresh.

    Leader of the IDPs camp at Zang Commercial College Jos, Zakka Ali who is also the Chairman of Gwoza Christian Community said: “We escaped from death and ran to this camp for refuge one year ago. We spent the Christmas in this camp last year and another Christmas is here.

    “We don’t want to spend this year’s Christmas here. But we have no home where we will spend the Christmas. Our homes were razed down by Boko Haram insurgents and government never cared to help us find alternative shelter.

    “There are no fewer than 276,312 Christians from Gwoza who were displaced as a result of insurgency. All of us are scattered; families disconnected. Some ran to Cameroon, some ran to Jos and other parts of Nigeria.

    “We need government’s intervention to return home as quickly as possible. We know President Muhammadu Buhari is a father of all Nigerians. We are appealing to him to help us get out of the camp; we are tired of staying here.”

    Programme Coordinator of Stefanos Foundation, the NGO who provided the camp,  Mr. Mark Lipdo said: “The NGO opened this camp on November 1, last year, as a temporary shelter for the IDPs. We have kept 479 families in the camp for over a year.

    “However, some of them had returned home; leaving at least 94 families in the camp. This comprises 466 people, including 38 males,  88 females and 340 children. “My NGO only thought of providing them a temporary camp, expecting government to take them over. But one year after, government has not come to their aids in that regard. They now feel abandoned by their own government. The NGO can only provide a little care.

    In a remark, the President, Plateau State Council of Chiefs, the Gbong Gwom Jos, His Royal Majesty, Da Jacop Gyang Buba praised Stefanos Foundation for taking the burden of caring for the IDPs for over a year.

    He said: “The issue of IDPs is one of the greatest challenges posed by the insecurity in the Northeast. It is commendable that the Federal Government has succeeded in rooting Boko Haram from the zone and plans are on by the Federal Government to reconstruct the areas destroyed by Boko Haram. I, therefore, call on the Federal Government not to forget the IDPs in Jos in the overall plan for the Northeast.”

    Guest Speaker on the occasion, Prof. Nnamdi Aduba of the University of Jos said: “Every citizen of Nigeria has the right to adequate standard of living and equal access to essential food, potable water, shelter, appropriate clothing and essential medical services, among other things.”

    Speaking on the topic “Good Governance and Humanitarian Crisis: A Case Study of Northern Nigeria,” he emphasised that the good governance index of Nigeria since the return to democracy in 1999, has been very dismal and discouraging.”

  • Displaced persons to return home next year – Buhari

    Displaced persons to return home next year – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said the return of persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency to their home communities will begin in earnest next year.

    Speaking during an audience with a delegation from the International  Rescue Committee (IRC) led by former British Foreign Minister, Mr. David Miliband, President Buhari  said his administration will do all within its powers to facilitate the quick return and resettlement of over two million internally displaced persons in their towns and villages.

    Buhari, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, told Mr. Miliband and his delegation that the Federal Government will welcome the support of the IRC and other local and international non-governmental organizations for  the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons.

    He said: “In 2016, the return of the IDPs will start in earnest.  They will return to their communities to meet destroyed schools and other infrastructures which have to be rebuilt.

    “With agriculture being moribund in the region in the last two years without cropping, hunger is already manifest.  We will welcome all the help we can get to assist the returnees.”

    Responding to a request by Mr. Miliband for the federal government to list types of assistance required for the IDPs, the President said there was an urgent need for support in the areas of agricultural inputs, health, nutrition, water and sanitation.

    President Buhari urged the IRC and other international agencies to work with the Presidential Committee on the North-East and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) which, he said, were already doing a lot to cater for the IDPs and restore some basic infrastructure in communities affected by terrorism and insurgency.