By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
The United Nations has warned that no internally displaced
person (IDP) or refugee should be compelled to leave a camp.
It said refugees or IDPs should allowed to “voluntarily return home, in safety
and dignity, when conditions are conducive for return or integrate into host
communities or settle in an area of their choice,”
In his remarks in Maiduguri at the celebration of World Refugee Day with the
theme: “Step with Refugees”, Mr. Edward Kallon, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator
in Nigeria, said there are still enormous challenges with millions of IDPs and
returnees continuing to live in crowded camps and lacking basic necessities
which has led to serious protection challenges.”
He said: “The provision of timely, enhanced and unhindered assistance including
adequate food, shelter, health, water/sanitation and education is of paramount
importance.”
Kallon said: “This calls for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to ensure
that these basic needs are provided to alleviate the suffering of the displaced
people as efforts to find durable solutions are also intensified, so that they
can voluntarily return home, in safety and dignity, when conditions are
conducive for return or integrate into host communities or settle in an area of
their choice.
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator while lamenting that “most displaced persons
have lost their homes, livelihood, community support, family structure, safety
and security,” said “they are in need of durable solutions to rebuild their
lives. The humanitarian community will continue to support the host government
in the provision of protection and assistance and in the search for durable
solutions.”
He said: “The Northeast crisis is fundamentally a protection crisis. The
humanitarian community is working with (Borno) state government to respond to
the needs of IDPs and returnees.”
Kallon who decried that over 7.1 million persons in the Northeast are in need
of humanitarian assistance, disclosed that “in 2018, the number of people
fleeing war, persecution and conflict exceeded 70 million. This double the
level of 20 years ago and 2.3 million more than a year ago. In Africa, 21
million are forcibly displaced and over 14 million among them are displaced
within their own country,.”
He added that: “Today, in the Northeast,
1.8 million people are internally displaced in the three state of Borno,
Adamawa and Yobe, with 80 percent of them in Borno state. One in four IDPs are
under the age of five, and 80 percent are women and children.”
Also speaking at the occasion, the chairperson of Borno State Emergency
Management Agency (BOSEMA), Hajiya Yabawa Kolo lamented that “the overall
growth in mass displacement has continued to exceed the rate at which solutions
are being found.”
She said with IDPs, the best solution remains voluntary return to their places
of abode, in safety and dignity, noting that “going home is deepest wish of
every IDP. However, this is possible when their hitherto peaceful communities
have regained their lost glory.”
Kolo said: “So far, IDPs in Bama, Banki, Askira-Uba, Monguno, Mobbar, Nganzai,
Damboa and Rann, the headquarters of Kala Balge, have resettled in their
communities.”
She asked for the redoubling of “efforts and solidarity with thousands of
innocents IDPs, who were forced to flee from their comfort zones.
“We should remember, that this is a service to humanity and their displacement
was a twist of fate. We should henceforth, not see these IDPs as burdens. They
are survivors of conflict and deserve proper care and support.”
She requested that: “Take one minute, use a token to support a family forced to
flee.”