UN, NEMA Collaborate to Create Awareness on Sexual Violence in IDPs Camps

By Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

The United Nations (UN) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have collaborated to create awareness and stem cases of sexual violence at internally displaced persons’ camps.

The two bodies, in order to reduce the vulnerability of women/girls in camps and non-camp locations, have organised a four-day capacity building workshop on strengthening state response to sexual and gender-based violence in humanitarian setting with the theme: “Needs and Justification in Addressing Gender-based Violence in Humanitarian Situations.”

At the opening of the workshop, which drew participants from all security agencies and humanitarian agencies in Maiduguri on Tuesday, the Director-General of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Maihaja, said the unflinching support of the agency from partners has gone a long way in reducing instances of sexual abuse on camps.

He said: “It is important to state here that in every emergency situation, women and children are often the worst affected among majority of survivors.”

Maihaja, who was represented by the Principal Relief and Rehabilitation Officer at the Agency, Mr. Oviangbede Monday, lamented that: “Every other war situations like the insurgent attacks in the North-eastern part of Nigeria have adversely affected women and girls in the region since its outbreak in 2010.”

Details later…