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Tag: IDPs

  • Beautician Ozolua rehabilitates IDPs

    Beautician Ozolua rehabilitates IDPs

    the horrors of Boko Haram have spurred a renowned body enhancement expert, Modupe Ozolua into action.

    Her organisation, Body Enhancement Foundation, has brought relief items to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Gombe State.

    Ozolua and her team visited the IDPs with consumables as well as jobs tools such as sewing machines to help them lead productive, independent lives.

    She spoke at the premises of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) where she donated empowerment materials and food items IDPs in the state who have now been sent out of camps to fast-track their rehabilitation into the society after about seven months of camping.

    “The right way to tackle the situation is not to continue with relief in the sense that it makes people dependent and they are not able to get back to their feet because everybody’s integrity as a man or a woman is being able to see they can feed their families,” she said.

    Princess Ozolua visited Gombe to State to find out how she, through her non-governmental organisation (NGO), could help reposition victims of insurgency from Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in Gombe.

    She went to the Wuro-Juli IDPs Camp and the Mini-camp at Federal Low Cost in the state capital where she took a census of essentially women with needs and what could be done to get them into the next stage of their lives.

    The protocol with her NGO was to take the IDPs’ names and anyone randomly picked would get relief materials.

    “But on seeing these people and their plight, she decided to set aside “this balloting thing,”said one of her field staff, Desmond.

    Eighteen women were given sewing machines; five got a bag of groundnuts each and other implements for groundnut oil processing; four were set up on cap making; 18 were given wrappers to sell, and the same number of people got N10,000 each to start micro businesses.

    Other items distributed were food items, toys and children’s clothes, as well as clothes for men while the tailors and groundnut oil makers were given additional cash to transport their items home. Also, women who indicated interest in acquiring sewing skills were told to go ahead with the foundation promising sponsorship.

    Ozolua said, “Most of you already know we met last week and promised we will come back; now we are here. The items you see here were based on the list of skills we were informed on by the men and women at the two camps that we are working with right now which is the one at Wuro-Juli and also the Federal Low Cost mini-camp

    “The assistance is targeted at women because the woman is responsible for her children and of course the men too. But we want to be able to empower the women so they can feed themselves, feed their families and be able to get back on their feet.”

    Receiving the princess and her team, Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Danlami Arabs Rukujei extolled the intervention as very timely and impressive because it was coming in at rehabilitation phase in the management of the IDPs.

    “I am more impressed because you are coming in and keying in at exactly the phase of rehabilitation.

    “It is in the light of this that Gombe State government deemed it right that we needed to get the people off camp, so that people can begin to get on their feet and you have come at such a very appropriate time.

    “There is nothing we will tell this woman and her team, than to appreciate them. It is not we that invited her, she came on her own, made enquiries and we told them we had gone beyond the stage of giving us just food or relief materials,” he said

    The SEMA Boss also appreciated the IDPs for having been law abiding since arrival and made them realise that the time had come for them to go and start looking for what to do, asking: “Should one give you a bag of rice, what if it finishes?”

    “But if you’re given something that will enable you generate income as this woman is doing today, that person would have contributed to bettering your lives,” he added

    An elated beneficiary of a sewing machines, Ndzarwa Bitrus, a tailor of over five years experience from Michika in Adamawa state. She lost her grandmother and uncle and had their house in Michika burnt by the insurgent. She said her husband is in Yola, jobless and homeless.

    “So, I didn’t come here with anything. I didn’t know what to do or how to start off again, but I was just praying. So I thank God who can make a way where there is no way. I thank this woman and her group that He has used. May God multiply them,” she said.

    Also a beneficiary, Fanna Bulama who hails from Damboa in Borno state is happy and satisfied with the presentation and prayed God to greatly the reward the giver.

    She plans to take her produce to Gombe main market as she had been doing at Damboa where she used to process the groundnut oil while her husband sold the produce and other by-products. She promised to use her gift appropriately.

     

  • Help for IDPs in Jos

    Help for IDPs in Jos

    Hope is fading among internally displaced persons (IDPs). They are homeless, poorly clothed, barely feeding and in woeful health. Thankfully, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) is providing free medical treatment for those in Jos, the Plateau State capital. YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU reports

    It is not hard to imagine what would have become of internally displaced persons (IDPs) without non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Thousands count themselves lucky to escape from their communities in the Northeast as Boko Haram insurgents invaded. Many more were killed, some kidnapped. Those who fled have been grappling with a wide range of challenges at relief camps: bad weather, terrible accommodation, insufficient food, even diseases. Fate hurts. But the deepest cut may be that government has essentially turned its back on those who were violently pushed out of their comfort zones.       Thank goodness, the NGOs have been providing the little that the IDPs have, from camps to clothing items to meal rations. Now, in Jos, the Plateau State capital, one interventionist group has also treated thousands of IDPs for various health conditions. Boys who fled with their parents before they could be circumcised went  through the surgery at the camps. Eye patients’ vision improved. There was even talk of a school for IDP kids.

    The IDPs once thought the government would promptly come to their aid. They have since known better.

    The Stefanos Foundation provided the camp for the IDPs in Jos but the NGO is also losing hope as no government agency ever made attempt to show sympathy for the displaced persons.

    “I offered this camp to the IDPs since four months ago,” said the coordinator of the NGO, Mr. Mark Lipdo. “The camp is supposed to be a temporary one; we intended to move them out of danger zone and bring them here for safety, after which we expected relevant government agencies like National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA ) to come and take over from us and provide relief for these innocent Nigerians by providing them permanent homes and rehabilitate them, but up till now no government has come up in spite of our appeals.”

    Continuing, Lipdo said, “More than 20 communities were sacked by Boko Haram in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states. Most of the inhabitants of those communities were so lucky to escape. We were able to rescue some of them and brought them to this camp. There are more than 2,000 of them in Jos camps; there are 3,000 of them in Taraba State and another 3,000 in Abuja; they are all under the care of the Stefanos Foundation.

    “My most worry now is those IDPs that are still in Cameroon, there about 28,000 of them in Cameroon and they are in a very deplorable condition there. Recently there was an outbreak of cholera in the Cameroon camp and over 300 of them died of cholera due to the deplorable condition they are living in there. We are making frantic efforts to bring them down to Nigeria.

    “But while we are making efforts to reach out to those in Cameroon camps, we are facing serious medical challenges at the Jos camp which we have to address, especially with the harsh cold weather of Jos, these people are coming from warm zone and they are finding the Jos weather a challenge, many of the especially the kids are already victims of pneumonia due to the effect of the cold, so many of them are down with malaria, Hepatitis etc. So, since I am not a medical expert, we have to reach out to another charity organisation to come to their aid by offering free medical assistance. That was when we got the consent of Tina Bawa Ministry International to help out.

    The NGO organised a three-day medical outreach in the IDPs camp to attend to various medical challenges. The medical team comprising nurses, doctors and community health workers, set up clinics to handle specific cases. There was an eye clinic, sections for children and women, and there was a dental clinic as well as surgery theater, a laboratory and dispensary. There was a section for consulting medical doctors.

    The team treated such cases as pneumonia, malaria, hepatitis, among but they also found that most of the male children in the camp were not circumcised at infancy. Now between the age of 5 and 12 most were made to face the medical procedure at the camp. More than 50 of them underwent the surgery of circumcision during the free medical outreach.

    Most of the adults at the camp were tested fro eye problems like cataract and glaucoma. Some were given lenses to enhance their sight while some were given eye drop to correct their conditions. The drug dispensary unit attended to all the victims based on prescription the medical doctors. As many as the IDPs that are in the camp had their health challenges were attended to within the three day allocated for the medical outreach.

    The consultant medical doctor and head of the team Dr. Daniel Odom said the major challenge at the camp was malarial infection. Almost all the IDPs at the camp had cases of malaria, some diagnosed for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, pneumonia, eye problems among others.

    The coordinator of Tina Bawa Ministry International, Rev Mrs. Tina Bawa, who sponsored the free medical outreach said, “The ministry is a church run by me and my husband. But like a non-governmental organisation, we have programme for the welfare of the less privileged especially children and women. I was moved when I was told of the plight of the women and children in this camp. We help vulnerable women and children of this nature, and we have done it in so many places across the country. It is a pity that in all crisis situations, women and children suffer the consequences. This is what is going on in this camp; these innocent children have been driven out of their homes for no fault of theirs. Now a Good Samaritan assembled the IDPs in camps for government to take over their responsibility. But as you can see, government has turned their attention away from these people.

    “So my ministry had to contact our volunteer medical personal across the country to come for another humanitarian work in this camp about 8 of them headed to the call, some are to busy to come, but those volunteer we have here are good enough to offer the best medical assistance to these IDPs. We know government have refused to cater for these innocent Nigerians, but we want to move from the level of lamentation into the level of action. If all other Nigerians will come to the aid of these people, they will not need government for anything. So, let us stop lamenting government inadequacy of carelessness, let us help them the little way we can.

    “Like I said, over 8 volunteer doctors were engaged in the four-day free medical program, with the aim of bringing soccure to these women and children. We need to  make them feel that despite their challenges there are people who care for them. That is what is expected of us as fellow Nigerians”

    The joy of the IDPs over the free medical program knows no bound, in spite of their deplorable condition, they could still put on some smiles to demonstrate their appreciation. One of them, Dauda Buba said, “I don’t know the last time I went to hospital for medical treatment, that should be over six months now. Since we were drove out of our homes by Boko Haram five months ago, I thought of only what to eat with my family, but today these angels of God decided to bring the hospital so close to us for free treatment. I ve been down with malaria since this new year, now I have been treated and given free drugs”

    Hamisu Dogo, 20, “I was treated for malaria, I was also screened for Hepatitis, but they said I did not have Hepatitis symptoms so I was given the prevention vaccine by the medical team”

    Founder of the Stefanos Foundation, Mr. Mark Lipdo said, “I will not be discouraged by government’s refusal to cater for these people, I will continued to do my best to assist them, we are even making efforts to bring other IDPs trapped in Cameroon back to Jos.

    Mr. Lipdo also revealed the school plans for the IDPs, “It is obvious that government is not ready to come to the aid of these people, but the children of the IDPs deserved to be in school. So we have concluded arrangements to organize classes for them. We have so far identified about 405 children in the camp. We have purchased some exercise books and other instructional materials and very soon, the lessons will commence.

  • Only registered IDPs will vote – Jega

    Only registered IDPs will vote – Jega

    Only registered Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) will be allowed to vote in the coming February general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said.

    The commission also noted that only those still within the three troubled states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe would be allowed to participate in the elections.

    There are between 981,000 to one million IDPS.

    Speaking this morning at a stakeholder’s workshop on Internally Displaced Persons and 2015 general election, INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega said the Commission would be setting up special centres for the IDPs to vote, stressing that it is the least that could be done to allow for their participation.

    Jega also said that the centres would be used for the distribution of Permanent Voters Card.

    He also announced that no centre would be created in IDPs camps.

     

  • Two days with IDPs in Jos

    Two days with IDPs in Jos

    After spending 48 hours in Jos with thousands of people displaced by Boko Haram, the youth wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have dire words: the IDPs need much more than relief materials. YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU reports  

    They are sheltering almost everywhere in Jos, the scenic capital of Plateau State. In Bukuru, on one end of the city, no fewer than 12,000 of them are quartered at Zawan Commercial College. At Tati Hotel, on the other end, another set has been grappling with the realities and challenges of camp life. Others are hosted in various parts of the city, to say nothing of the majority being accommodated by relatives. You could say the Tin City is home to a grieving mass forced from their homes in the Northeast by Boko Haram fighters.

    Jos has offered them shelter, for which the people are grateful. They see the beauty of the city and take in its rocky landscape, but it is clear that their one wish is to return home if only the insurgents can be kept at bay.

    Members of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) from their Abuja national headquarters spent two days with them, coming away with a heavy heart and an urgent call for more action. Individuals have thrown in some relief materials, as have some organisations, even the government, but the visiting Christian youths said that more needed to be done.

    The visitors did not come empty-handed. They brought in bags of rice and cartons of noodles, which their hosts gladly received.

    The IDPs, drawn from Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, ended up in Jos after Boko Haram insurgents attacked and took over their homes.

    At one of the camps in Zawan Commercial College Bukuru, Jos, there at least 12,000 people comprising 114 families. There are some others at EYC Church Jos, another group at Tati Hotel while majority of others have been accommodated by their relations as well as well-to-do individual who have rooms to accommodate these victims of terror.

    After going round the various camps on December 23, the Christian group was obviously touched.

    The group said, “After a visit to the displaced persons camps, we, the Christian youth of this country, are deeply concerned over what is happening to our nation as it affects the growing generation. As witnesses of the camps we visited, you could see the pathetic condition of individuals and family members who have been made refugees in their country.

    “People have been subjected to surviving in unhealthy conditions under the harsh weather of Jos for no just cause. This is just the sample of the so many camps spread over the nation. We are not to mention the families and individuals that have been killed, some missing and others living in the rocks waiting for their death.

    The question begging for answers in our minds is, when will this brutality come to an end? This is the question that has defied every attempt to answer but we are so sure that at the appropriate time our God will bring the horrible act to an end.

    “We are all created by God for His purpose and pleasure regardless of religion, tribe, location and belief. The creator’s desire is for us to express His love for each other.

    “We decided to undertake this visit to express our concern and love for those in the camps who are not just our mothers and younger ones but also our peers whose future, and by implication, that of our nation, is threatened.

    As Christian youth leaders, we will continue to preach peace and restrain not because we lack the capacity to fight back but that we see those killing us as ‘ripe filed for harvest’ and we cannot afford to join in destroying our God given nation.

    “We will continue to show love to those who hate us and will not be deterred from propagating the gospel of Christ no matter the condition of our country.

    “We wish to appreciate the governor, non-governmental organisations, churches and individuals who have made efforts toward ensuring that the victims of attacks are cared for.

    “May we appreciate specially the Plateau State people and government under the leadership of Pastor Dr. Jonah David Jang for creating the enabling environment for hosting the various displaced persons in homes, churches and various camps.

    May we also appreciate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the leadership he is providing for Nigeria and his efforts towards making sure that the security agents have the needed equipment and personnel in combating the insurgency. We wish that more is done to the victims of the various attacks. We wish that Government would not only provide reliefs materials to victims but adequate compensation and rebuilding of the houses and property.

    The Christian youths presented mainly food items to the displaced persons like bags of rice and cartons of noodles. National President of the Youth CAN, Ekiye Ekiye, who presented the items on behalf of members said, “We have come to identify you to demonstrate our concern. We actually share in your moment of grief and we share in your pains. But remember that as Christian, let us placed our trust and hope in a God almighty. Let us not lament endlessly like a hopeless one, at least we have hope in the God we worship, so we are not hopeless.

    “Apart from that we have to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness, desist from holding grudges but pray for those who persecute you; your persecution is a challenge on your faith in God. Please, you should not give up due to this temporary setback, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Jesus is Lord forever; don’t hate those who put you in this situation. Pray for them and remember that you have to love your enemies irrespective of the circumstances. We believe God will help us as a country to overcome these challenges.”

    Responding on behalf of Stefanos Foundation, Ayuba Planji who is the organisation’s Project Manager, appreciated the gesture but appealed to public-spirited people and organisations to donate medicine and vaccine to take care of the health needs of the people.

    Plangji said, “We have 1,000 people from 114 families here and they are mostly women and children. We tested them when they arrived and so far, 45 people have been diagnosed with Hepatitis B. Health-wise, there is a risk so we plead for people to come and donate vaccine and medicine to treat the people and curb the spread of the sickness in camp.”

    As it is, more is still needed to cater for the housing, feeding, education, health and empowerment needs of the people and government at all levels and individuals are urged to meet these needs the little way they can so that the society can be improved,” he said.

  • 2015: INEC meets on modalities for IDPs participation

    2015: INEC meets on modalities for IDPs participation

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to come out later on Friday with the modalities to address the Internally Displaced Persons’ participation in the general election.

    The commission is still locked in a meeting at the time of filling this report.

    INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had at different fora assured Nigerians that people from the troubled Northeast will participate in the elections.

    Consequently, the commission sets up a committee to fashion out how to accommodate the IDPs in the conduct of the elections.

     

  • 25,000 IDPs live in Gombe

    At least 25,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from across the troubled Northeast states are presently residing in Gombe State with about 15,000 of them living in the state capital.

    A permanent Secretary in the state who is also in charge of Administration and Finance of Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Hajiya Laraba Kawu made this known in Gombe Thursday.

    She spoke briefly after the flag-off of distribution of food items and other materials worth millions of naira to 375 victims of insurgency displaced from their homes.

    The relief materials were provided by the Presidential Committee on Disaster Victims’ Support Programme on Thursday.

    Laraba, who represented Gombe State governor and SEMA at the occasion, appreciated the efforts of Federal Government in associating with victims of the problems in the northeast.

    She urged beneficiaries to make maximum use of whatever they are given as relief items.

     

  • Abuja IDPs warned against selling materials

    Abuja IDPs warned against selling materials

    Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been warned against selling the materials given to them by the Federal Government.

    The Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ishaya Chonoko, spoke yesterday at Durumi, in the outskirts of the FCT, at the agency’s distribution of branded materials.

    The NEMA chief said the move was to prevent non-IDPs from impersonating genuine displaced persons, who might sell the items in the market.

    He said: “Contrary to speculation that the NEMA-branded materials is aimed at IDPs, who the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has planned to issue with the permanent voter cards (PVCs) to vote for a particular candidate, is not true. The branded materials are meant to stop the products from being diverted to the market for sales.

    “We branded the materials because a lot of non-internally displaced persons, who had settled in Abuja before this incident, take the shared materials to the market for sale.

    “As you can see, the product is clearly marked ‘Not For Sale’. So, anybody selling these ones in the market should be reported to the appropriate authority because they are clearly tagged ‘Not For Sale’.

    “Some of the branded materials distributed include 25 litres of groundnut oil, packs of tomato paste, packs of soap, a number of plastic buckets, bags of rice, beans, millet, guinea corn and salt.”

  • 2015: INEC raises task force on IDPs

    2015: INEC raises task force on IDPs

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised a ten member task force to look into the possibility of allowing the internally displaced persons to participate in 2015 general election.

    Mrs. Thelma Iremiren, INEC National Commissioner led task force has the mandate to examine the legal, political, security and administrative challenges confronting the IDP’s participation

    The task force has seven working days, beginning from December 22 to turn in its report.

    Other nine members include the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

    Specifically, members of the task force include the Director, Electoral Operations, Mr. Kayode Oladimeji; Ag. Director, Legal Services, Barrister Ibrahim Bawa; Director, Voter Registry, Engr. Emmanuel Akem; Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu and Special Assistant to the Chairman, Prof. Mohammed Kuna.

    Others are – the REC of Borno State, Prof. Tukur Sa’ad; his counterpart for Adamawa State, Barr. Kassim Gaidam; the REC of Yobe State, Mallam Sadiq Abubakar Musa; and Director, Planning and Monitoring, Barr. Okechukwu Ndeche, who is also the task force Secretary.

    According to a press statement signed by the Chief press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, the task force, which was approved by the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has seven terms of reference.

     

  • We need jobs, IDPs cry out

    Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the Northeast who are living in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday told the Federal Government to provide them with means of livelihood instead of staple foods.

    The 1,865 IDPs said the materials given to them by the Presidential Committee on Victims Support Fund (VSF) were commendable but ephemeral.

    Representative of the IDPs from Borno State, Paul Amos, spoke in Abuja at the beginning of a relief programme, tagged: Support to Victims of Terrorism, organised by the VSF.

    Amos said: “Even though we are receiving some materials, the government should do more.

    “We thank God and General Theophilus Danjuma (former Army Chief) for their support. We have suffered a lot but the Lord will still continue to protect us.

    “I am talking on behalf of others. Our plea to the government is that we have youths, Senior Secondary School (SSS) certificate holders, graduates, National Diploma (ND) holders who do not have jobs. We need jobs. Please, listen to us. Please, consider us. Please, assist us. We cannot rely on this alone. Among us are people whose families are far apart.

    “For over a year now, we have not gone to school. For over a year, we have no jobs. We cannot continue to rely on food alone.

    “Some are looking for help in Cameroun and Yobe State. We are living here alone without our families. There are missing brothers, sisters and wives.”

    Another representative Mr. Elisha Ezekiel said he came to FCT from Borno State on May 26.

    He said about 2,000 IDPs were in Waru village until 1,865 others joined them.

    Ezekiel said prior to VSF’s visit, a Christian group, House on the Rock, visited the victims and gave them materials.

    According to him, there is need for the government to meet their immediate needs, such as shelter, jobs and medical treatment.

    Ezekiel said: “Basically, as we are, we are homeless. They (insurgents) burnt our houses, killed our brothers and parents. As we are living here, majority of our brothers are sleeping under the tree, some are sleeping in mechanic garages.

    “We do not have shelter; no means of livelihood. So, we don’t want the government to give us fish but teach us how to fish. That is our problem.”

    VSF Chairman Gen. Theophilus Danjuma said the organisation would help the IDPs in the Northeast.

    He said the VSF was set up to raise alternative funds for victims of insurgency.

    Danjuma, who donated about N1.6 billion at the launch of the fund on July 31, described the event as a reminder to the tragedy the insurgents had caused in the Northeast.

    He said: “No one can take your future from you. We will be by your side throughout this journey.”

  • Minister seeks participation of IDPs in 2015 polls

    Minister seeks participation of IDPs in 2015 polls

    The Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna, has called for provisions that would enable internally displaced persons (IDPs) to participate in next year’s elections.

    The minister noted that IDPs, whether on account of insurgency or natural disasters, such as flood and any other circumstance, should not be disenfranchised to exercise their civic responsibility.

    Addressing reporters in Abuja, Haruna said amendments should be made in the Electoral Act to allow them cast their votes and for their votes to count for any party or any candidate they choose.

    He said: “That is actually the important thing. The National Assembly should take the fastest track to ensure that in the 2015 elections, such a provision is made for the IDPs in all parts of the country.”

    Haruna said creating an enabling electoral environment for IDPs was not just a matter concerning the Northeast alone, adding that they are all over the country.

    He said: “It will be unfair to deny them the opportunity to exercise their civic duty and their numbers run into millions. So, this is a personal appeal. I am sure I am speaking the minds of the IDPs.”