NEMA: 1.9m IDPs Live in Formal and Satellite Camps, Host Communities

A total of  1,934,765 internally displaced persons  (IDPs) are currently living in formal camps, host communities and satellite   camps in liberated communities as a result of insurgency in North-eastern states of Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi and Adamawa.

This was disclosed by the Yola camp Coordinator, Saad Bello, who, on behalf of the Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, took the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Samanthan Power, round the facilities at Malkohi  IDP Camp in Yola, Adamawa State, at the weekend.

He said there were 32 formal camps in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States with a total of 189,783 IDPs.  

Borno State has 19 camps with 150,858 IDPs; Yobe State has nine camps with 31,988 IDPs; and Adamawa State four camps with 6,937 IDPs.

The camp coordinator added that there were 14 satellite camps in liberated communities, mainly in Borno State   with 216,184 IDPs. The camps with the highest population are Ngala with 70,505; Dikwa 53,636; Bama 27,000 and Damboa/Sabon Gari 25,311.

Bello said host communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States have a total of 1,391,613 IDPs. Borno State has the highest with 1,158,362, Adamawa State 125,689 and Yobe State 107,562.

He said: “Federal government, through the coordinating agency, NEMA, and relevant line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) have been trying to meet the needs of the IDPs in the provision of food, nutrition, non-food items (NFIs), temporary shelter, medicament, psycho-social therapy, security and protection.

He said as the government continued in the efforts to meet the needs of the IDPs, more supports were critically required for the IDPs across the three identified kinds of camps before they return back to their communities.

The critical areas where further support is needed are food, non-food items (including basic household needs), shelter,  education, nutrition, protection, health and sexual reproductive health  and psycho-social help.

The US Ambassador to UN, Power, who led a high level delegation from US to the Malkohi IDPs camp and host communities told them that they were there to determine what more could be done to defeat Boko Haram so that they can return  to their communities.

“I know how difficult these last years have been for you, and on behalf of President Barack Obama, I express my sympathy and my  condolences for  all  you have lost and our  resolve to try to make things better together,” she said.