FOR a few years now, Nigeria has witnessed an upsurge in the number of Internally Displayed Persons (IDPs) that have been affected by the security challenge in the north eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. A recent Displacement Tracking Matrix conducted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) identified over 2million Nigerians are presently displaced. Of these, about 10% are living in formal camps and the remaining either in informal camps or host communities.
The IDPs are Nigerians that were forced out of their homes and communities by the security challenge while their houses were destroyed. Most of them fled without carrying anything for support not even clothing.
From the outset when the security challenge began to escalate prompted the declaration of the state of emergency, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) immediately commenced the delivery of relief materials by working with the military in creating humanitarian cells for delivery of basic supplies to the affected persons in their communities. Unfortunately, as the situation continued to escalated, more communities were displaced, forcing the people to flee to distant locations, some even across the borders into the neighbouring countries of Cameroun, Chad and Niger.
The humanitarian intervention by NEMA under the emergency phase has been to immediately provide basic supports of livelihood to the IDPs. Under this phase, the interventions are aimed at meeting the basic needs of the people such as foods, shelter and clothing. There is also the aspect of health which is equally very important under this phase. The agency has been doing everything possible by rallying medical supports that included supplies of drugs and medical consumables for treatment of the sick and the most vulnerable including the aged, children and pregnant women.
The Federal Government’s humanitarian intervention in the north east is a child of necessity to support the distressed victims of insurgency. The survival and comfort of the victims remain the main focus of the assistance the IDPs are currently relieving.
For more than two years now, NEMA has continued to maintain active presence in the provision of supports to the IDPs in the north east. The agency has deployed its officers on special humanitarian assignments in the management of camps with officials of the State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) in Yola, Maiduguri and Damaturu where many IDPs are currently taking temporary shelters. The camps in Adamawa State are located in Malkohi, Damare (NYSC camp), Fufore and St Theresa. In Borno, the camps are in Dalori (FTC), Government College, NYSC Camp, Teachers Village, Gubio, Women College, Bakasi, Customs Area Bulamari and EYN Wulari among others. In Yobe State, the IDPs are in Pompori camp and many other wards and communities in Damaturu and other locations in the state.
The present humanitarian activities is the single largest to be undertaken by NEMA for over this period of time. However, the agency has been able to meet with the challenges by expanding on its responses and rallying the cooperation of the stakeholders. The agency has also adopted a number of strategies, for addressing evolving challenges in the course of caring for the IDPs. For instance, in Borno State which has the largest number of the IDPs, the agency recently signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government defining the roles of the state and NEMA in the management of the affected persons.
Another major challenge has to do with the best channel to reach many of the IDPs that are living in the host communities. However, with the supports of the states government, civil society organizations and faith based organizations special avenues have been created for regular distribution of supports of relief items that are delivered by NEMA to them in designated locations. Besides, The agency has also been proactive by going the extra mile of providing support to the IDPs in the informal camps. These informal camps are discovered to exist in many communities and the agency has been doing everything possible in assisting the IDPs found to be living together in those camps.
Moreover, the agency has continued to brave the odds by delivering humanitarian support to IDPs in some of the freed communities with the assistance and cover from the military. These include the liberated towns of Bama, Dikwa, Damboa, etc. On a recent routine relief and medical trip to the Dikwa, the Governor of Borno State personally joined the NEMA officers to the town as well as the Local Government Chairman and traditional ruler of the area. The large quantities of supplies delivered were timely supports for the IDPs and the NEMA mobile clinic deployed was able to attend to most of their medical needs.
For the returning Nigerians that have fled the neighbouring countries, NEMA received about 20, 000 from the Republic of Niger through Geidam, Yobe State and facilitated their movements back home to their various states. Between July and December, the agency received more than 18, 000 from the Republic of Cameroun through Sahuda border post in Mubi, Adamawa State and moved them to the IDPs camps in Yola and Fufore where some have already been transported back to their locations both within the state and Borno. Those in the camps are being catered for by officers of the agency that are presently supporting them along with the other IDPs.
The sustained success of the Nigerian military in clearing communities that were hitherto occupied by the insurgents has now given way to the next focus which is for the return of the IDPs back to their homes. It is well known that the President has given the assurances on their early return and the military has been doing everything possible to ensure safety in the communities. The fact is that there have been steady return of people to a number of the liberated communities. For these, NEMA has been giving them exit packages which are basic supports that would require in the short term, while arrangement is already in place for medium and long term measures.
Recently, the Office of the Vice President, NEMA and Borno State Government jointly organized the multi stakeholders engagement on north east which was held in Maiduguri. The programme brought together the governors and stakeholders from all the six states in the north east, UN system including NGOs working the area. The engagement provided useful inputs that would engineer accelerated process for support to the IDPs. The process of rehabilitation for the IDPs has already begun and the President has assured that everything possible would be done to support them return to their normal livelihoods in their communities.
The National Emergency Management Agency led by the Director General Muhammad Sani Sidi is already in the forefront the Federal Government’s humanitarian supports and rehabilitation of the IDPs. From the beginning of the security challenge, the agency has remained committed in the supports of the displaced persons and would continue to discharge its responsibilities until they are fully rehabilitated and resettled.
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