Traumatised, homeless and sometimes malnourished, people displaced by the insurgency need urgent help, reports OLUGBENGA ADANIKIN
A doctor, who attended to Adiza Umar, an infant at the Durumi camp of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said she would have died had she not had prompt medical attention.
Little Adiza was diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition many IDPs face at their camps in various parts of the country.
That is not the only concern. All of the displaced people nurse psychological wounds, having been forced from their homes and communities by Boko Haram fighters. Many watched their relatives, friends and neighbours hacked down by the invaders, and count themselves lucky to escape.
But the escape has given them little comfort. They live in horrible conditions, lacking food, sleeping places and medication.
That was why a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) which visited Durumi camp in Dagba, FCT, has called for health care centres to be built at the camps.
The NGO alongside some philanthropists made the case for prompt intervention to meet medical needs of the homeless victims.
Executive Director, TZY Foundation, Mr. Dayo Akindolani who spoke on their behalf during a visit to Dagba, Durumi IDP camp in Abuja said the NGO made it a point of duty to quickly intervene in the deteriorating health condition of an infant, Umar Adiza ýat the camp.
Akindolani ýdisclosed that the case of Adiza was only one from many in several other IDP camps in the country, urging the government to rise to this responsibility.
The baby was subsequently diagnosed for malnutrition at the Federal Staff Hospital, Abuja.
A medical doctor in the paediatrics department of the hospital disclosed that but for the quick intervention of the foundation, little Hadiza would have died.
The doctor said the effect of malnutrition could be synonymous to HIV as the body would have become vulnerable to accept any form of disease.
The official who spoke based on anonymity stated that due to lack of food, the entire body immune system was rendered ineffective.
“She was diagnosed of malnutrition. It is a serious disease that can be compared to HIV. It prevents immunity and paralyse the ýbody’s immunity system. That’s what malnutrition does.
“This baby would have died if you have not brought her for treatment. All the infections have started reacting,” he said.
He called for quick rehabilitation.
The Federal Government has disclosed that General TY Danjuma would supervise every presidential interventions and inItiatives aimed to rehabilitate Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the nation.
Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo revealed this Saturday at the Northern Reawakening Forum organised to rebuild the 19 northern states affected by the insurgency.
Osinbanjo said there was need for a unilateral approach to streamline all interventions including the Presidential Initiative on IDPs for better impact.
The Vice President, who stated that about 10 northern states remained the most poorest in the country, emphasised that the new administration is committed to repair the damages.
He said the social safety nets, Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), one meal daily for school children should be top priority among all the interventions, stressing that the north bears most consequence of poverty.
Osinbajo said: “We have been working on interventions in the north east due to immediacy of the crisis in that axis but the problem of diseases and poverty were excercebated by the boko haram insurgency…..close detailed, analysis and plans on the north east has been done in collaboration with some development organisations.
“We have government interventions such as presidential initiative on the north east, victims support group among others. Now all of the federal government initiatives are now under the chairmanship of General TY Danjuma. We hope that streamlining these efforts this way will help control immediate deliveries of succor to many of the problems currently in the north east.
“In 19 northern states of Nigeria, human development indices showed they are by far poorer than other parts of the country. The Northern states occupy 70 per cent of our land mass, the highest infant mortality rate, the lowest number of children in school, the highest number of unemployed young people and the challenge of insecurity and religious crisis including Boko Haram.
“A nation of 170 million people, the sixth largest producer of oil, over a 100 variety of solid minerals and precious metals, thousands of arable land, largest economy in Africa yet desperately poor, over 110 million people extremely poor. Maternal mortality has taken over 55, 000 people in a year,” Osinbajo added.
However, he said there was urgent need to rehabilitate the victims and integrate them back to their original homes.
Earlier, Chairman of the forum, Hon. Mohammed Umara regretted that the north west and north east records the highest death rate of infants born within the first 28 days.
He said the region also records lowest literacy level, adding that poverty rate in 16 from 19 northern states have doubled since 1980.
However, he disclosed that the forum was organised to restore traditional values of peaceful co-existence between different religious, tribes and promote political and socio-economic development in the region.
Umara expressed optimism the forum would help address challenges of poor educational standard.
In his remark, the Borno State Governor, Alh. Kashim Shettima called for prompt sustainable development programmes in the northern states.
Shetima said the governors had agreed to. Work together to redevelopment the region.
The governor urged federal government to develop an all inclusive development plan to really address all challenges of the state and restore peoples’ hopes.
“A comprehensive master plan that will help re-integrate the people and seek entire development of the northern Nigeria should be designed,” Shettima added.
The Adamawa Government confirmed that seven people died and 13 were injured in an explosion that occurred at the Malkohi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp near Yola, on Friday morning.
The state Commissioner for Information, Malam Ahmad Sajoh, confirmed the incident to newsmen after a visit to the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, where the injured persons were receiving treatment.
Sajoh said four officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were among the injured persons.
He also said another blast was reported in Madagali, but that the casualty figure was still unknown.
“I just got the report of another blast in Madagali but as I speak to you, I am still trying to get the actual picture of the situation.
“I got the report from officials of the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA),” Sajoh said.
He said the state government would foot the bill of all those injured in the Malkohi incident.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that following the Malkohi blast, security operatives have commenced fresh screening of all IDPs at the camp.
All the IDPs where gathered in one section of the camp as policemen, soldiers and other officials of the camp embarked on the screening.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gabriel Adaji, who spoke on the development, said security had been beefed up at the camp to forestall a reoccurrence.
Adaji said it was possible that the persons that came with the explosive that rocked the camp joined the IDPs that were brought to the camp on Thursday night from Madagali.
“We suspect one of those IDPs that came newly; possibly they beat the security checks to cause this mayhem.
“It is unfortunate. We are now trying our best to see that such incident does not happen again,” he said.
The NEMA Camp Coordinator in Adamawa, Mr. Saad Bello, confirmed that a total of 298 IDPs from Madagali and 17 from Sambisa forest were brought to the camp on Thursday night.
Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari and Mrs Regina Lalong, wife of Plateau State governor, have lifted the spirits of displaced women and children in internally displaced persons camps in Jos, the state capital.
They presented relief items worth millions of naira to the IDPs on a visit to the camp at Zang Commercial College Jos. Some of the items included bags of rice, cartons of noodles, cartons of ceramic bowls, kegs of palm oil, toiletries, bundles of cloth and bags of salt, among other items.
Mrs Buhari was represented by the wife of Nasarawa State governor, Hajiya Salamatu Al-makura.
The camp manager and Director, Stefanus Foundation, Mark Lipdo said, “The IDPs camp was established in November with over 470 families comprising over 4,000 people. But today some have returned home but there are still 94 families who have no home to return to in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states. There are currently 38 males, 88 females and 340 children totalling 466 individuals, while over 300 families have been successfully integrated into various host communities. We have over 5,000 IDPs currently in Panda and Karu local governments of Nasarawa state.”
Mrs. Lalong said, “It is with a heavy heart that I stand before you to address fellow women and children who are victims of insecurity in the country. No amount of reasons can justify the violence in Northeast that caused innocent women and children these kinds of pain you are experiencing in this camp.
“I am here with the wife of our President who has come all the way because of you and because of the level of inconveniences you faced as a result of your displacement from your various homes.
“As women and mothers we will do our best to make sure we cushion the effect of whatever you are passing through at the moment and to also encourage you that this moment is temporal.
Mrs Al-Makura said, “The wife of our President has received information about your presence in this camp and she has asked me to come and see you on her behalf.
“These few items have been assembled by the wife of our President and the wife of Plateau State governor as a show of love and to prove that we all share in your moment of hardship.
“Having come and seen your situation, I will go and report back to the First Lady and she is prepared to take further action to alleviate your sufferings.
“Please don’t think your present condition is going to be permanent, the government of President Buhari is very passionate and committed to do all that is possible to return you to your various homes to continue with your normal life as you used to do.
“So I encourage you to remain calm, hopeful and be prayerful while the federal government proffers lasting solution towards your rehabilitation.”
The IDPs were elated.
Mr. Ezekiel Bala spoke on their behalf: “We want to return home, we have spent one year in this camp and we have been looking forward to the day we will return to our homes right from the very day we came here. Some of us went home and came back to the camp because all our houses have been demolished.
“Apart from the absence of houses, our places are not still safe for occupation, people cannot go to farm, the insurgents are still lurking around. We want to know how long we are going to remain here. Our children have not gone to school for one year, they have no future in their own country.
“We want Mr. President to provide us shelter and security for us to return home as soon as possible; that is our demand.”
Three agencies of the Federal Government have assured internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, that they will not be forcefully evicted from their camps until the government permanently resettles them.
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Bem Angwe, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammed Sani Sidi and Director, Internal Security, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Isaac Idu gave this assurance in Abuja on Thursday.
They spoke at a meeting of a committee set up to address the plight of IDPs in the FCT, including facilitating their proper resettlement.
The committee chaired by Lambert Oparah of the NHRC presented a draft report of their activities so far, which a meeting of stakeholders, comprising of representatives of relevant government agencies, will consider in their bid to finding solution to the challenges being experienced by IDPs with no officially designated camps.
Angwe said from interaction with the IDPs, most of them were willing to return to their home towns. He said it was the responsibility of the relevant government agencies to help facilitate the return of the IDPs to the home, and ensure they are properly resettled.
Sidi, who corroborated Angwe’s position, said his agency was ready to work with the NHRC and other related agencies in ensuring the rights of the IDPs are not violated.
“We will ensure their safe return to their home states in dignified manner. They will not be forcefully evicted from their current camps, but will be help to relocate,” Sidi said.
Three agencies of the Federal Government have assured internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja that they will not be forcefully evicted from their current camps until the government was able to permanently resettle them.
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Bem Angwe, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammed Sani Sidi and Director, Internal Security, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Isaac Idu gave this assurance in Abuja Wednesday.
They spoke at a meeting of a committee set up to address the plight of IDPs in the FCT, including facilitating their proper resettlement.
Angwe said from interaction with the IDPs, most of them were willing to return to their home towns.
He said it was the responsibility of the relevant government agencies to help facilitate the return of the IDPs to the home, and ensure they are properly resettled.
Sidi, who corroborated Angwe’s position, said his agency was ready to work with the NHRC and other related agencies in ensuring the rights of the IDPs are not violated.
“We will ensure their safe return to their home states in dignified manner. They will not be forcefully evicted from their current camps, but will be help to relocate,” Sidi said.
Idu said the Office of the National Security Adviser was in support of efforts to address problems being experienced by IDPs.
He assured that “We will not engage in forceful eviction of the IDPs. But will assist in efforts to ensure they are well catered for.”
About 500 IDPs residing in an uncompleted estate in Apo, FCT had, on August 14 protested at the NHRC headquarters over alleged threat to evict them. The protest let to the setting up of the committee head by Oparah to workout modalities for sending the IDPs back to their various camps in their states of origin and sensitize the people in that regard.
The details may not be quite out yet, but it is clear that with the liberation of most communities in the Northeast from Boko Haram insurgents, coupled with the massive return of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon and Niger, focus has shifted from handing out relief packages to comprehensive rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery of other affected persons and communities.
The Director General of National Emergency Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani Sidi disclosed this at an African Union Regional Consultative meeting for West Africa for the development of a common African position on the World Humanitarian Summit in Abuja.
He said the agency was collaborating with State Emergency Management agencies with the support of the UN System and has undertaken damage and loss assessment of the affected communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
He added that the agency has also made submissions to the government for appropriate intervention by line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
He noted that the humanitarian outcome of the insurgency has equally impacted the contiguous states of Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau and Taraba and the neighboring Republics of Niger, Chad and Cameroun.
He said there were about 57,743 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon, Chad and Niger, with Cameroun having 40,366 who were taking refuge in Minawayo, Mora, Fotocol, Limani, Amchide, Douala, Kentzou and Garoua Bouali refugee camps; 15,000 in the Republic of Niger who were taking refuge in Diffa, Bosso, Maine and Kablewa, and 2, 377 in Chad taking shelter in Ngouboua, Lake Chadi region.
Responding to questions, the Director General lamented how about 12,000 Nigerian refugees were expelled by the Camerounian authorities and dumped at the border while UNHCR was watching. “I expressed my concern to UNHCR when the Nigerian delegation went to Chad, Niger and Cameroun for assessment of the condition of Nigerian Refugees which was misconstrued as forceful evacuation by UNHCR.”
Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has donated medical supplies and three tanks for storing water to Internally Displaced Persons at a camp in Uhogua village, Ovia North East Local Government.
Out of the 900 Boko Haram victims that were brought to camp, 142 of them were returned to their families two weeks ago.
Arase assured the IDPs who are mostly children that adequate security would be provided for them.
Represented by Force Medical Officer, AIG Grace Okudo, Arase promised the IDPs that they would not lack anything.
The police boss said his men would be on ground to meet the needs of the Boko Haram victims especially as it relates to their general well-being.
According to him; “We will do our best for you. We know many diseases can be caused by water so we brought these Geepee tanks.
“You will not miss anything. Our team from Asaba and Benin will be visiting to know your needs particularly as regards your health issues. We will be coming always to see what we can do.”
Founder of the International Christian Mission, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, thanked the police boss for his intervention.
Things may not be getting worse for persons forced from their homes by the insurgents but some shippers who visited a camp in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) made the point that the victims of Boko Haram need more help. GRACE OBIKE reports
The visitors brought quite a sizeable consignment of relief materials, but their message may be just as helpful as their gifts. There is much more to do for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
That was more or less the point made by members of the Nigerians Shippers Council Senior Staff Association (NSCSSA) who presented bags of rice and a load of other household needs on their visit to an IDPs camp in the FCT.
Boko Haram has dealt a lifelong blow to its victims. Its fighters have killed thousands and wounded many more mainly in the Northeast. The invaders robbed homes, shops and farms before setting a good many on fire, leaving survivors with no choice but to flee. But such is the flight that virtually state in the country hosts a number of IDPs. And at a huge cost not only on themselves but also those who have to look after them.
Yet, their squalid accommodation is far short; daily necessities even fewer. That is not all; at some point Abuja developers told them to evacuate. Before then, security personnel also clashed with them, leaving about five IDPs dead.
That was, as it were, in the old order. Under the new administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, things seem to be changing a bit for the better. But the IDPs still need help.
The visiting members of the NSCSSA have said that although the government and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) are doing their best for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), they can afford to do more.
NSCSSA painted a touching picture of people who escaped the only life they were accustomed to because of Boko Haram and now have to live in deplorable conditions, adding that Nigerians who have the resources should help.
President NSCSSA Comrade Mukhtar Adikwu said said that members of the association decided to contribute from their meagre salary to provide for the IDP’s because they realise that the situation that made some Nigerians displaced can happen to anyone and it is only when Nigerians come out en mass to contribute that these Nigerians will survive the situation that they have found themselves in.
He added, “We discovered that this people are our brothers, who are displaced from their homes and we feel that as Nigerian workers, it is not really nice when you eat in your house and realise that others are not eating, you don’t feel comfortable at all so that is why we put our heads together and to take something out of our meagre salaries to come and assist the needy because it could be anybody because this one’s are displaced today, tomorrow it could be my relatives or even me, which is why we have come together to bring this items to this people to at least solve some of the problems they are encountering.
“Some of the items that we brought here today are sixty bags of 25kg rice, twenty cartons of soap, eight cartons of vegetable oil, cartons of spices and clothing materials as well as liquid soap, these are what the staff of Nigerian shippers council are able to gather together especially the senior staff association and we are able to bring them here.
ing that the place is conducive enough for their return, so the government is doing all it can but it should not only be left to the government alone, there are individuals who are worthy enough they should come out, there is nothing wrong with providing port cabins here, they should come out to support this people before they return because the government on its own after handling the insurgency will ensure that they clean up the place to ensure that the place is safe enough to return to.”