Plateau IDPs in Harrowing State, Camp Director Laments

*Says some people died from severe cold

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The Camp Director of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Mangu, Plateau State, Mr. Marcus Gumwesh, has lamented the harrowing condition in the camps across the state.
He said the condition was so bad that some mothers had to give birth on bare floors, lacking proper clothing and adequate nutrition, adding that, “Some of them catch a cold and die.”

He, therefore, noted that the camp was in dire need of food, baby clothing, and sanitary pads for women, and called on spirited Nigerians to come to their aid.
Gumwesh disclosed this when the University of Jos Consultancy Limited took delivery of relief materials to victims of recent attacks in the state, who were displaced and were currently in the camp.

Shedding light on the multifaceted challenges faced by the camp, Gumwesh said, the problems ranged from providing adequate food, education, and medical care to the victims, pleading that no matter how little the assistance might be, it would go a long way in putting a smile on the face of the victims.
He said the Mangu camp was just one part of a larger crisis, with four other camps and eleven distribution centers working tirelessly to offer assistance to the affected persons.

“Seeing that families fled their homes with minimal resources, the camp is grappling with financial constraints for essentials like clothing, education, and medical bills. We have serious challenges with feeding,” he explained.
General Manager of the University of Jos Consultancy, Hauwa Lami Temine, said it was part of its corporate social responsibility and community services to care for the victims of the crisis, especially the children.

She said as an integral part of the University of Jos, the company aimed to extend relief and solidarity not only to the affected individuals in Mangu but also to those in Pankshin, Bokkos, and other communities devastated by the senseless attacks.
Temine expressed serious concerns for the well-being of children during crises, saying, “We came to show our love to you, especially the children; to tell them that our prayers have been with them.”